Liquid crystal display

ABSTRACT

A liquid crystal display includes a display substrate which includes a plurality of pixel areas and is curved in a first direction, an opposite substrate which faces the display substrate, is coupled to the display substrate, and is curved along the display substrate, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the display substrate and the opposite substrate, where a plurality of domains are defined in each of the plurality of pixel areas, directions in which liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are aligned are different from each other in at least two domains among the plurality of domains, and the plurality of domains is arranged in a second direction crossing the first direction.

This application claims priority to Korean Patent Applications No.10-2013-0092200 filed on Aug. 2, 2013, No. 10-2013-0092203 filed on Aug.2, 2013, No. 10-2013-0101907 filed on Aug. 27, 2013, No. 10-2013-0109223filed on Sep. 11, 2013, No. 10-2013-0110647 filed on Sep. 13, 2013, andNo. 10-2013-0123515 filed on Oct. 16, 2013, and all the benefitsaccruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. §119, the contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The invention relates to a liquid crystal display (“LCD”). Moreparticularly, the invention relates to an LCD having a curved shape.

2. Description of the Related Art

As one of flat panel displays, a liquid crystal display (“LCD”) isapplied to various electronic appliances, such as a television set, amonitor, a notebook, a mobile phone, etc., to display an image. Inrecent years, an LCD having a curved shape has been developed. Thecurved LCD displays the image through a curved display area and providesa user with improved three-dimensional (“3D”) effect, a sense ofimmersion, and virtual presence.

SUMMARY

The invention provides a liquid crystal display (“LCD”) having improveddisplay quality of an image displayed through a curved display areathereof.

Embodiments of the invention provide an LCD including a displaysubstrate, an opposite substrate, and a liquid crystal layer. Thedisplay substrate includes a plurality of pixel areas and is curved in afirst direction. The opposite substrate faces the display substrate. Theopposite substrate is coupled to the display substrate and curved alongthe display substrate. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between thedisplay substrate and the opposite substrate.

In an exemplary embodiment, domains are defined in each of the pluralityof pixel areas and directions in which liquid crystal molecules of theliquid crystal layer are aligned are different from each other in atleast two domains among the domains. In an exemplary embodiment, thedomains are arranged in a second direction crossing the first direction.

According to the above, although a misalignment occurs between thedisplay substrate and the opposite substrate when the display substrateand the opposite substrate are curved, a lower alignment direction andan upper alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules may beuniformly maintained by alignments layers respectively disposed on thedisplay substrate and the opposite substrate. Therefore, alignmentdefects caused when the lower alignment direction and the upperalignment direction are different from each other may be effectivelyprevented. As a result, a transmittance of the light may be effectivelyprevented from being deteriorated in the domains, and thus the displayquality of the LCD may be improved.

In an exemplary embodiment, two branch portions disposed in two domainsadjacent to each other are connected to each other by a domainconnection portion disposed between the two branch portions, and the twobranch portions and the domain connection portion are connected to eachother in a zigzag shape. Accordingly, the two branch portions may beeffectively prevented from serving as one branch portion in the twodomains. As a result, directions in which the liquid crystal moleculesare aligned are clearly distinct from each other in the two domains, sothat the display quality of the LCD may be improved. Further, intensityof the inner fringe field is increased by the structure of the auxiliarybranch portions, and the intensity of the inner fringe field may becomestronger than that of external electric field acting in opposition tothe inner fringe field. Therefore, since the inner fringe field morestrongly acts on the domains than the external electric field, theliquid crystal molecules may be easily aligned even though the innerfringe field is overlapped with the external electric field in thedomains.

In addition, a variation in brightness of the image displayed on thedisplay substrate, which is caused by the viewing direction, may beminimized Accordingly, a difference between the brightness perceived ina left side of the display substrate and the brightness perceived in aright side of the display substrate is effectively reduced, and thus thedisplay quality of the display substrate is improved.

Further, since the spacers are overlapped with the light blocking layer,the thickness of the spacers is effectively reduced by the thickness ofthe light blocking layer. Therefore, the thickness of each of thespacers is effectively reduced and the size of bottom surface of each ofthe spacers is effectively reduced, thereby effectively reducing thesize of each of the spacers in a plan view. Thus, the spacers may beeasily disposed in the non-pixel area. As a result, the aperture ratioof the plurality of pixel areas may be effectively prevented from beinglowered.

In addition, the column spacer is disposed on the display substrate, andthus the column spacer may be effectively prevented from moving by themisalignment between the display substrate and the opposite substrate.Consequently, the cell gap between the display substrate and theopposite substrate may be effectively prevented from being varied. As aresult, the display quality of the LCD may be improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other advantages of the invention will become readilyapparent by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing an exemplary embodiment of aliquid crystal display (“LCD”) according to the invention;

FIG. 1B is a plan view showing the LCD shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is a side view showing the LCD shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a pixel of the LCD shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II′ of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D are perspective views showing liquid crystalmolecules aligned by an electric field generated between a displaysubstrate and an opposite substrate;

FIG. 5 is a view showing domains defined in a pixel area and alignmentdirections of liquid crystal molecules;

FIG. 6A is a plan view showing another exemplary embodiment of a pixelof an LCD according to the invention;

FIG. 6B is a view showing domains of the pixel shown in FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing another exemplary embodiment of a pixel ofan LCD according to the invention;

FIG. 8A is a plan view showing another exemplary embodiment of a pixelof an LCD according to the invention;

FIG. 8B is an enlarged view showing a first horizontal stem portionshown in FIG. 8A;

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing another exemplary embodiment of a pixel ofan LCD according to the invention;

FIG. 10A is a plan view showing another exemplary embodiment of a pixelof an LCD according to the invention;

FIG. 10B is an enlarged view showing a first vertical stem portion shownin FIG. 10A;

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing another exemplary embodiment of a portionof a first sub-pixel electrode of an LCD according to the invention;

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing another exemplary embodiment of a pixelof an LCD according to the invention;

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing another exemplary embodiment of a pixelof an LCD according to the invention;

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing another exemplary embodiment of a pixelof an LCD according to the invention;

FIG. 15A is an enlarged view showing a first sub-pixel electrode shownin FIG. 14;

FIG. 15B is an enlarged view showing a second sub-pixel electrode shownin FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing another exemplary embodiment of a pixelof an LCD according to the invention;

FIG. 17 is a plan view showing another exemplary embodiment of a pixelof an LCD according to the invention;

FIG. 18 is a plan view showing another exemplary embodiment of a pixelof an LCD according to the invention;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged view showing a portion of a first sub-pixelelectrode shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged view showing another exemplary embodiment of aportion of a first sub-pixel electrode of an LCD according to theinvention;

FIG. 21 is an enlarged view showing to another exemplary embodiment of aportion of a first sub-pixel electrode of an LCD according theinvention;

FIG. 22 is a plan view showing another exemplary embodiment of a pixelelectrode of an LCD according to the invention;

FIG. 23 is a view showing another exemplary embodiment of alignmentdirections of liquid crystal molecules in domains defined in pixelsaccording to the invention;

FIG. 24 is a view showing another exemplary embodiment of alignmentdirections of liquid crystal molecules in domains defined in pixelsaccording to the invention;

FIG. 25 is a view showing another exemplary embodiment of alignmentdirections of liquid crystal molecules in domains defined in pixelsaccording to the invention;

FIG. 26 is a plan view showing another exemplary embodiment of a pixelof an LCD according to the invention;

FIG. 27A is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV′ of FIG. 26;

FIG. 27B is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V′ of FIG. 26;

FIG. 27C is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI′ of FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a plan view showing another exemplary embodiment of aposition relation between a thin film transistor (“TFT”), a color pixel,and a spacer in an LCD according to the invention;

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII′ of FIG. 28;

FIG. 30 is a graph showing a relation between a smear and an area ratioof a column spacer;

FIG. 31 is a plan view showing another exemplary embodiment of aposition relation between a TFT, a color pixel, and a spacer in an LCDaccording to the invention;

FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII′ of FIG.31; and

FIG. 33 is a plan view showing another exemplary embodiment of aposition relation between a TFT, a color pixel, and a spacer in an LCDaccording to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which various embodiments areshown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms,and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forthherein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosurewill be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of theinvention to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals refer tolike elements throughout.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to asbeing “on”, “connected to” or “coupled to” another element or layer, itcan be directly on, connected or coupled to the other element or layeror intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when anelement is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to”or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there are nointervening elements or layers present. Like numbers refer to likeelements throughout. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any andall combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. maybe used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layersand/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/orsections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only usedto distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section fromanother region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component,region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a secondelement, component, region, layer or section without departing from theteachings of the invention.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”,“upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description todescribe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) orfeature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that thespatially relative terms are intended to encompass differentorientations of the device in use or operation in addition to theorientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in thefigures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” otherelements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elementsor features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both anorientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented(rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relativedescriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms, “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes”and/or “including”, when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

“About” or “approximately” as used herein is inclusive of the statedvalue and means within an acceptable range of deviation for theparticular value as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art,considering the measurement in question and the error associated withmeasurement of the particular quantity (i.e., the limitations of themeasurement system). For example, “about” can mean within one or morestandard deviations, or within ±30%, 20%, 10%, 5% of the stated value.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art andwill not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unlessexpressly so defined herein.

Hereinafter, the invention will be explained in detail with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a liquid crystal display (“LCD”)according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, FIG. 1B is a planview showing the LCD shown in FIG. 1A, and FIG. 1C is a side viewshowing the LCD shown in FIG. 1A.

Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, an LCD 500 includes a display area DAin which an image is displayed and has a curved shape. Accordingly, theLCD 500 may displays the image with improved three-dimensional (“3D”)effect, a sense of immersion, and virtual presence through the displayarea DA provided in the curved shape.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the LCD 500 includes a displaysubstrate 100, an opposite substrate 300, and a liquid crystal layer LC(refer to FIG. 3A). The opposite substrate 300 is coupled to the displaysubstrate 100 and faces the display substrate 100. The liquid crystallayer LC is interposed between the display substrate 100 and theopposite substrate 300.

In an exemplary embodiment, the LCD 500 may further include otherelements in addition to the display substrate 100 and the oppositesubstrate 300, but it should not be limited thereto or thereby. In anexemplary embodiment, the LCD 500 may further include a backlightassembly (not shown) to provide a light to the display substrate 100 andthe opposite substrate 300, but a light source for the LCD 500 shouldnot be limited to the backlight assembly.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the LCD 500 is curved in afirst direction D1. Therefore, a portion or all of the display substrate100 is curved in the first direction D1, and the display area DA has acurved shape curved in the first direction D1. In an exemplaryembodiment, the opposite substrate 300 is curved as the displaysubstrate 100 is curved.

As shown in FIG. 1C, a first point CP1 is defined on the curved portionof the display substrate 100, a normal line 10 crossing the first pointCP1 is defined, and a second point CP2 is defined on the oppositesubstrate 300 to meet the normal line 10. In an exemplary embodiment, agaze line 15 substantially parallel to a gaze direction of a user isdefined to cross the first point CP1 and a third point P3 is defined onthe opposite substrate 300 to meet the gaze line 15. In this case, sincethe display substrate 100 and the opposite substrate 300 are curved, aposition of the second point CP2 may be different from a position of thethird point P3 on the opposite substrate 300.

As described above, a phenomenon in which the position of the secondpoint CP2 does not match with the position of the third point P3 isreferred to as a misalignment between the display substrate 100 and theopposite substrate 300. Hereinafter, a structure of the LCD 500, whichprevents a display quality of the image displayed in the display area DAfrom being deteriorated due to the misalignment, will be described indetail.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a pixel of the LCD 500 shown in FIG. 1A,FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′of FIG. 2, andFIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II′ of FIG. 2.

The LCD 500 includes a plurality of pixels, but only one pixel disposedin one corresponding pixel area is shown in FIG. 2 and details of otherswill be omitted since the pixels have the same structure and function.In an exemplary embodiment, the display substrate 100 will be mainlydescribed and the opposite substrate 300 will be described withreference to FIGS. 3A and 3B.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3A, and 3B, the display substrate 100 includes afirst base substrate 51, a gate line GL, a first data line DL1, a seconddata line DL2, a first thin film transistor (“TFT”) TR1, a second TFTTR2, a pixel electrode PE, and a first alignment layer 110.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first base substrate S1 may include aninsulating substrate having a light transmitting property and a flexibleproperty, e.g., a plastic substrate. The gate line GL is disposed on thefirst base substrate S1 and connected to the first and second TFTs TR1and TR2 to apply a gate signal to the first and second TFTs TR1 and TR2.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the pixel area PA includes afirst sub-pixel area PA1 and a second pixel area PA2. In this case, thepixel electrode PE includes a first sub-pixel electrode PE1 disposed ina first sub-pixel area PA1 and a second sub-pixel electrode PE2 disposedin a second sub-pixel area PA2.

The first and second data lines DL1 and DL2 are disposed on the firstbase substrate S1 and insulated from the gate line GL. The first dataline DL1 transmits a first data signal and the second data line DL2transmits a second data signal. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment,the first data line DL1 extends along one side (e.g., left side) of thefirst and second sub-pixel electrodes PE1 and PE2 and the second dataline DL2 extends along the other side (e.g., right side) of the firstand second sub-pixel electrodes PE1 and PE2. Thus, the first and secondsub-pixel electrodes PE1 and PE2 are disposed between the first andsecond data lines DL1 and DL2. However, the invention is not limitedthereto, and the first and second sub-pixel electrodes PE1 and PE2 maynot be disposed between the first and second data lines DL1 and DL2.

The first TFT TR1 is electrically connected to the gate line GL, thefirst data line DL1, and the first sub-pixel electrode PE1. Accordingly,when the first TFT TR1 is turned on in response to the gate signal, thefirst data signal is applied to the first sub-pixel electrode PE1.

The first TFT TR1 includes a first gate electrode GE1, a first activepattern APE a first source electrode SE1, and a first drain electrodeDEL The first gate electrode GE1 is branched from the gate line GL andthe first active pattern AP1 is disposed on the first gate electrode GE1such that the first insulating layer L1 is disposed between the firstactive pattern AP1 and the first gate electrode GE1. The first sourceelectrode SE1 is branched from the first data line DL1 to make contactwith the first active pattern APE and the first drain electrode DE1 isspaced apart from the first source electrode SE1 to make contact withthe first active pattern An In an exemplary embodiment, the first sourceelectrode SE1 and the first drain electrode DE1 may be disposed on bothends of the first active pattern APE respectively.

A second insulating layer L2 covers the first TFT TR1 and a thirdinsulating layer L3 is disposed on the second insulating layer L2. Thefirst sub-pixel electrode PE1 is disposed on the third insulating layerL3 and makes contact with the first drain electrode DE1 through acontact hole defined through the second and third insulating layers L2and L3.

The second TFT TR2 is electrically connected to the gate line GL, thesecond data line DL2, and the second sub-pixel electrode PE2. Therefore,when the second TFT TR2 is turned on in response to the gate signal, thesecond signal is applied to the second sub-pixel electrode PE2.

The second TFT TR2 includes a second gate electrode GE2, a second activepattern AP2, a second source electrode SE2, and a second drain electrodeDE2. The second gate electrode GE2 is branched from the gate line GL andthe second active pattern AP2 is disposed on the second gate electrodeGE2 such that the first insulating layer L1 is disposed between thesecond active pattern AP2 and the second gate electrode GE2. The secondsource electrode SE2 is branched from the second data line DL2 to makecontact with the second active pattern AP2, and the second drainelectrode DE2 is spaced apart from the second source electrode SE2 tomake contact with the second active pattern AP2.

The second sub-pixel electrode PE2 is disposed on the third insulatinglayer L3 and makes contact with the second drain electrode DE2 through acontact hole defined through the second and third insulating layers L2and L3.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, each of the first and secondactive patterns AP1 and AP2 includes a semiconductor material, e.g.,amorphous silicon, crystalline silicon, etc., but it should not belimited to the semiconductor material. In an exemplary embodiment, eachof the first and second active patterns AP1 and AP2 may include oxidesemiconductor, such as indium gallium zinc oxide (“IGZO”), ZnO, SnO₂,In₂O₃, Zn₂SnO₄, Ge₂O₃, HfO₂, etc., or compound semiconductor, such asGaAs, GaP, InP, etc.

As described above, the first and second TFTs TR1 and TR2 are turned onin response to the gate signal. In this case, the first data signal isapplied to the first sub-pixel electrode PE1 through the first TFT TR1and the second data signal different from the first data signal isapplied to the second sub-pixel electrode PE2 through the second TFTTR2. Thus, the first and second sub-pixel electrodes PE1 and PE2 aredriven in response to different data signals, and thus different grayscales are displayed in the first and second sub-pixel areas PA1 andPA2.

The first alignment layer 110 is disposed above the pixel electrode PEand makes contact with the liquid crystal layer LC. When electric fielddoes not exist between the display substrate 100 and the oppositesubstrate 300, the first alignment layer 100 aligns liquid crystalmolecules RM (refer to FIGS. 4A to 4D) of the liquid crystal layer LC tobe inclined with respect to the first alignment layer 110. In this case,the liquid crystal molecules aligned inclined with respect to the firstalignment layer 110 become more inclined by the electric field, and thusthe liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a direction substantially inparallel to the display substrate 100. The above-described operationmode of the liquid crystal molecules against the electric field iscalled a super vertical alignment (“SVA”) mode, and in this case, aresponse time required to display the image on the LCD 500 may beimproved.

The opposite substrate 300 includes a second base substrate S2, a colorfilter CF, a light blocking layer BM, a common electrode CE, and asecond alignment layer 310. In an exemplary embodiment, the second basesubstrate S2 may be an insulating substrate having a light transmittingproperty and a flexible property.

The common electrode CE is disposed on the second base substrate S2 togenerate the electric field applied to the liquid crystal layer LC incooperation with the pixel electrode PE. The light blocking layer BM isdisposed on the second base substrate S2 to correspond to the gate lineGL, the first and second data lines DL1 and DL2, and the first andsecond TFTs TR1 and TR2. In an exemplary embodiment, the color filter CFis disposed on the second base substrate S2 to filter the light passingthrough the liquid crystal layer LC to a color light.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the light blocking layer BM andthe color filter CF are disposed on the second base substrate S2, butthe light blocking layer BM and the color filter CF should not belimited thereto or thereby. In an exemplary embodiment, at least one ofthe light blocking layer BM and the color filter CF may be disposed onthe first base substrate S1.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the first sub-pixel electrodePE1 includes a first horizontal stem portion HS1, a second horizontalstem portion HS2, a first vertical stem portion VS1, a second verticalstem portion VS2, and first, second, third, and fourth branch portionsB1, B2, B3, and B4.

The first vertical stem portion VS1 is connected to the first horizontalstem portion HS1, edges of the first branch portions B1, and edges ofthe second branch portions B2, and the second vertical stem portion VS2is connected to the second horizontal stem portion HS2, edges of thethird branch portions B3, and edges of the fourth branches B4. In theillustrated exemplary embodiment, each of the first and second verticalstem portions VS1 and VS2 extends in the second direction D2 crossingthe first direction D1 in which the LCD 500 is curved. In an exemplaryembodiment, the second direction D2 may be substantially perpendicularto the first direction D1 when viewed in a plan view, for example.

The first horizontal stem portion HS1 is connected to the first verticalstem portion VS1, edges of the first branch portions B1, and edges ofthe second branch portions B2. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment,the first horizontal stem portion HS1 extends in the first direction D1and is branched from a center portion of the first vertical stem portionVS1 in a plan view. The first branch portions B1 are symmetrical withthe second branch portions B2 with respect to the first horizontal stemportion HS1, and the first horizontal stem portion HS1 is disposedbetween first and second domains DM1 and DM2 (refer to FIG. 5).

The second horizontal stem portion HS2 is connected to the secondvertical stem portion VS2, edges of the third branch portions B3, andedges of the fourth branch portions B4. In the illustrated exemplaryembodiment, the second horizontal stem portion HS2 extends in the firstdirection D1 and is branched from a center portion of the secondvertical stem portion VS2. The third branch portions B3 are symmetricalwith the fourth branch portions B4 with respect to the second horizontalstem portion HS2, and the second horizontal stem portion HS2 is disposedbetween third and fourth domains DM3 and DM4 (refer to FIG. 5).

A portion of the first branch portions B1 is branched from the firsthorizontal stem portion HS1 and the other portion of the first branchportions B1 is branched from the first vertical stem portion VS1. In anexemplary embodiment, each of the first branch portions B1 extends inthe third direction D3 inclined with respect to the first direction D1and the second direction D2 when viewed in a plan view, and each of thefirst branch portions B1 is arranged to be spaced apart from each other.

A portion of the second branch portions B2 is branched from the firsthorizontal stem portion HS1 and the other portion of the second branchportions B2 is branched from the first vertical stem portion VS1. In anexemplary embodiment, each of the second branch portions B2 extends inthe fourth direction D4 inclined with respect to the first and seconddirections D1 and D2 when viewed in a plan view, and each of the secondbranch portions B2 is arranged to be spaced apart from each other.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the fourth direction D4 crossesthe third direction D3 when viewed in a plan view. In an exemplaryembodiment, the third and fourth directions D3 and D4 are substantiallyperpendicular to each other when viewed in a plan view, and each of thethird and fourth directions D3 and D4 defines an angle of about 45degrees with respect to the first direction D1 or the second directionD2.

A portion of the third branch portions B3 is branched from the secondhorizontal stem portion HS2 and the other portion of the third branchportions B3 is branched from the second vertical stem portion VS2. In anexemplary embodiment, each of the third branch portions B3 extends in afifth third direction D5 inclined with respect to the first and seconddirections D1 and D2 when viewed in a plan view, and each of the thirdbranch portions B3 is arranged to be spaced apart from each other.

A portion of the fourth branch portions B4 is branched from the secondhorizontal stem portion HS2 and the other portion of the fourth branchportions B4 is branched from the second vertical stem portion VS2. In anexemplary embodiment, each of the fourth branch portions B4 extends inthe sixth direction D6 inclined with respect to the first and seconddirections D1 and D2 when viewed in a plan view, and each of the fourthbranch portions B4 is arranged to be spaced apart from each other.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the sixth direction D6 crossesthe fifth direction D5 when viewed in a plan view. In an exemplaryembodiment, the fifth and sixth directions D5 and D6 are substantiallyperpendicular to each other when viewed in a plan view, and each of thefifth and sixth directions D5 and D6 defines an angle of about 45degrees with respect to the first direction D1 or the second directionD2.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the second sub-pixel electrodePE2 may have a size different from that of the first sub-pixel electrodePE1, but have a shape similar to that of the first sub-pixel electrodePE1.

The second sub-pixel electrode PE2 includes a third horizontal stemportion HS3, a fourth horizontal stem portion HS4, a third vertical stemportion VS3, a fourth vertical stem portion VS4, and fifth, sixth,seventh, and eighth branch portions B5, B6, B7, and B8.

The third vertical stem portion VS3 extends in the second direction D2and is connected to the third horizontal stem portion HS3, edges of thefifth branch portions B5, and edges of the sixth branch portions B6. Thefourth vertical stem portion VS4 extends in the second direction D2 andis connected to the fourth horizontal stem portion HS4, edges of theseventh branch portions B7, and edges of the eighth branch portions B8.

The third horizontal stem portion HS3 is branched from the thirdvertical stem portion VS3 and extends in the first direction D1, and thefourth horizontal stem portion HS4 is branched from the fourth verticalstem portion VS4 and extends in the first direction D1. In theillustrated exemplary embodiment, the third horizontal stem portion HS3is branched from a center portion of the third vertical stem portion VS3and the fourth horizontal stem portion HS4 is branched from a centerportion of the fourth vertical stem portion VS4 in a plan view.

A portion of the fifth branch portion B5 is branched from the thirdhorizontal stem portion HS3 and the other portion of the fifth branchportion B5 is branched from the third vertical stem portion VS3. Each ofthe fifth branch portions B5 extends in the third direction D3 whenviewed in a plan view, and each of the fifth branch portions B5 isarranged to be spaced apart from each other.

A portion of the sixth branch portion B6 is branched from the thirdhorizontal stem portion HS3 and the other portion of the sixth branchportion B6 is branched from the third vertical stem portion VS3. Each ofthe sixth branch portions B6 extends in the fourth direction D4 whenviewed in a plan view, and each of the sixth branch portions B6 isarranged to be spaced apart from each other.

A portion of the seventh branch portion B7 is branched from the fourthhorizontal stem portion HS4 and the other portion of the seventh branchportion B7 is branched from the fourth vertical stem portion VS4. Eachof the seventh branch portions B7 extends in the fifth direction D5 whenviewed in a plan view, and each of the seventh branch portions B7 isarranged to be spaced apart from each other.

A portion of the eighth branch portion B8 is branched from the fourthhorizontal stem portion HS4 and the other portion of the eighth branchportion B8 is branched from the fourth vertical stem portion VS4. Eachof the eighth branch portions B8 extends in the sixth direction D6 whenviewed in a plan view, and each of the eighth branch portions B8 isarranged to be spaced apart from each other.

When the first to eighth branch portions B1 to B8 have theabove-described structure, first to fourth domains DM1 to DM4 (refer toFIG. 5) are defined in the first sub-pixel area PA1 and fifth to eighthdomains DM5 to DM8 (refer to FIG. 5) are defined in the second sub-pixelarea PA2. These will be described in detail later with reference toFIGS. 4A to 4D and 5.

In an exemplary embodiment, when the first to eighth domains are definedin the first and second sub-pixel areas PA1 and PA2 as described above,the first sub-pixel electrode PE1 further includes a first domainconnection portion LP1 and the second sub-pixel electrode PE2 furtherincludes a second domain connection portion LP2.

The first domain connection portion LP1 is disposed between the seconddomain and the third domain to connect the second and third branchportions B2 and B3, and the second domain connection portion LP2 isdisposed between the sixth domain and the seventh domain to connect thesixth and seventh branch portions B6 and B7. In the illustratedexemplary embodiment, the first domain connection portion LP1 isdisposed at a center portion of a boundary area between the second andthird domains, and the second domain connection portion LP2 is disposedat a center portion of a boundary area between the sixth and seventhdomains.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D are perspective views showing liquid crystalmolecules aligned by the electric field generated between the displaysubstrate and the opposite substrate and FIG. 5 is a view showing thedomains defined in the pixel area and alignment directions of the liquidcrystal molecules.

In detail, FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing an alignment state ofthe liquid crystal molecules disposed on the first branch portions B1 bythe electric field, FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing an alignmentstate of the liquid crystal molecules disposed on the second branchportions B2 by the electric field, FIG. 4C is a perspective view showingan alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules disposed on the thirdbranch portions B3 by the electric field, and FIG. 4D is a perspectiveview showing an alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules disposedon the fourth branch portions B4 by the electric field.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 5, the first branch portions B1 extend in thethird direction D3. When electric field is not generated between thedisplay substrate 100 (refer to FIG. 3A) and the opposite substrate 300(refer to FIG. 3A), a portion of the liquid crystal molecules RM, whichis disposed adjacent to the first alignment layer 110, is aligned at afirst pre-tilt angle A1 by the first alignment layer 110, and a portionof the liquid crystal molecules RM, which is disposed adjacent to thesecond alignment layer 310, is aligned at a first pre-tilt angle A1 bythe second alignment layer 310.

When a direction in which the liquid crystal molecules RM are aligned bythe first alignment layer 110 in a plan view is referred to as a firstlower alignment direction LD1 and a direction in which the liquidcrystal molecules RM are aligned by the second alignment layer 310 in aplan view is referred to as a first upper alignment direction UD1, thefirst upper alignment direction UD1 and the first lower alignmentdirection LD1 are substantially parallel to the third direction D3. Thatis, the first lower alignment direction LD1 is the same as the firstupper alignment direction UD1.

When the electric field is generated, the liquid crystal molecules RMbecome more inclined by the electric field, and thus the liquid crystalmolecules RM are aligned in the third direction D3 substantiallyparallel to the first branch portions B1. That is, the pre-tilted liquidcrystal molecules RM by the first and second alignment layers 110 and310 become more inclined toward the third direction D3 by the electricfield.

Different from the illustrated exemplary embodiment, when the firstupper alignment direction UD1 and the first lower alignment directionLD1 are different from each other, directions, in which the liquidcrystal molecules RM disposed adjacent to the first and second alignmentlayers 110 and 310 are inclined in response to the electric field, areopposite to each other. In this case, the number of the liquid crystalmolecules RM aligned in the third direction D3 by the electric field isreduced, and thus alignment defects occur in the liquid crystal layerLC. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, however, the first upperalignment direction UD1 is the same as the first lower alignmentdirection LD1 and the liquid crystal molecules RM are aligned in thesame direction by the electric field, so that the alignment defects inthe liquid crystal layer LC may be prevented.

Accordingly, when an area in which the liquid crystal molecules RM arealigned by the first branch portions B1 is referred to as the firstdomain DM1 and a direction in which the liquid crystal molecules RM arealigned in the first domain DM1 by the electric field is referred to asa first liquid crystal alignment direction DR1, the first liquid crystalalignment direction DR1 may be the third direction D3 that is the sameas the first lower alignment direction LD1 and the first upper alignmentdirection UD1 in the first domain DM1.

Referring to FIGS. 4B and 5, the second branch portions B2 extend in thefourth direction D4. Therefore, when electric field is not generated, aportion of the liquid crystal molecules RM, which is disposed adjacentto the first alignment layer 110, is aligned at the second pre-tiltangle A2 by the first alignment layer 110, and a portion of the liquidcrystal molecules RM, which is disposed adjacent to the second alignmentlayer 310, is aligned at the second pre-tilt angle A2 by the secondalignment layer 310.

When a direction in which the liquid crystal molecules RM are aligned bythe first alignment layer 110 in a plan view is referred to as a secondlower alignment direction LD2 and a direction in which the liquidcrystal molecules RM are aligned by the second alignment layer 310 in aplan view is referred to as a second upper alignment direction UD2, thesecond upper alignment direction UD2 and the second lower alignmentdirection LD2 are substantially parallel to the fourth direction D4.That is, the second lower alignment direction LD2 is the same as thesecond upper alignment direction UD2.

When the electric field is generated, the liquid crystal molecules RMbecome more inclined by the electric field, and thus the liquid crystalmolecules RM are aligned in the fourth direction D4 substantiallyparallel to the second branch portions B2. Thus, the second upperalignment direction UD2 and the second lower alignment direction LD2 arethe same and directions in which the liquid crystal molecules RM arealigned by the electric field are the same. As a result, a second liquidcrystal alignment direction DR2 may be the fourth direction D4 that isthe same as the second lower alignment direction LD2 and the secondupper alignment direction UD2 in the second domain DM2.

Referring to FIGS. 4C and 5, the third branch portions B3 extend in thefifth direction D5. Therefore, when electric field is not generated, aportion of the liquid crystal molecules RM, which is disposed adjacentto the first alignment layer 110, is aligned at a third pre-tilt angleA3 by the first alignment layer 110, and a portion of the liquid crystalmolecules RM, which is disposed adjacent to the second alignment layer310, is aligned at the third pre-tilt angle A3 by the second alignmentlayer 310.

When a direction in which the liquid crystal molecules RM are aligned bythe first alignment layer 110 in a plan view is referred to as a thirdlower alignment direction LD3 and a direction in which the liquidcrystal molecules RM are aligned by the second alignment layer 310 in aplan view is referred to as a third upper alignment direction UD3, thethird upper alignment direction UD3 and the third lower alignmentdirection LD3 are substantially the same as the fifth direction D5. Thatis, the third lower alignment direction LD3 is the same as the thirdupper alignment direction UD3.

When the electric field is generated, the liquid crystal molecules RMbecome more inclined by the electric field, and thus the liquid crystalmolecules RM are aligned in the fifth direction D5 substantiallyparallel to the third branch portions B3. Thus, the third upperalignment direction UD3 and the third lower alignment direction LD3 arethe same and directions in which the liquid crystal molecules RM arealigned by the electric field are the same. As a result, a third liquidcrystal alignment direction DR3 may be the fifth direction D5 that isthe same as the third lower alignment direction LD3 and the third upperalignment direction UD3 in the third domain DM3.

Referring to FIGS. 4D and 5, the fourth branch portions B4 extend in thesixth direction D6. Therefore, when electric field is not generated, aportion of the liquid crystal molecules RM, which is disposed adjacentto the first alignment layer 110, is aligned at a fourth pre-tilt angleA4 by the first alignment layer 110, and a portion of the liquid crystalmolecules RM, which is disposed adjacent to the second alignment layer310, is aligned at the fourth pre-tilt angle A4 by the second alignmentlayer 310.

When a direction in which the liquid crystal molecules RM are aligned bythe first alignment layer 110 in a plan view is referred to as a fourthlower alignment direction LD4 and a direction in which the liquidcrystal molecules RM are aligned by the second alignment layer 310 in aplan view is referred to as a fourth upper alignment direction UD4, thefourth upper alignment direction UD4 and the fourth lower alignmentdirection LD4 are substantially the same as the sixth direction D6. Thatis, the fourth lower alignment direction LD4 is the same as the fourthupper alignment direction UD4.

When the electric field is generated, the liquid crystal molecules RMbecome more inclined by the electric field, and thus the liquid crystalmolecules RM are aligned in the sixth direction D6 substantiallyparallel to the fourth branch portions B4. Thus, the fourth upperalignment direction UD4 and the fourth lower alignment direction LD4 arethe same and directions in which the liquid crystal molecules RM arealigned by the electric field are the same. As a result, a fourth liquidcrystal alignment direction DR4 may be the sixth direction D6 that isthe same as the fourth lower alignment direction LD4 and the fourthupper alignment direction UD4 in the fourth domain DM4.

As described above, the first to fourth domains DM1 to DM4 sequentiallyarranged in the second direction D2 are defined in the first sub-pixelarea PA1 and the liquid crystal alignment directions in the first tofourth domains DM1 to DM4, in which the liquid crystal molecules RM arealigned by the electric field, are different from each other.Accordingly, a viewing range about the first sub-pixel area PA1 may beexpanded. In an exemplary embodiment, when the electric field is notgenerated, the alignment defects do not occur in the first to fourthdomains DM1 to DM4 since the direction in which the liquid crystalmolecules RM are aligned by the first alignment layer 110 in each of thefirst to fourth domains DM1 to DM4 is substantially the same as thedirection in which the liquid crystal molecules RM are aligned by thesecond alignment layer 310.

Similar to the first sub-pixel area PA1, the second sub-pixel area PA2includes the fifth to eighth domains DM5 to DM8 sequentially arranged inthe second direction D2 and the liquid crystal alignment directions, inwhich the liquid crystal molecules RM are aligned by the electric fieldin the fifth to eighth domains DM5 to DM8 are different from each other.In an exemplary embodiment, when the electric field is not generated,the alignment defects do not occur in the fifth to eighth domains DM5 toDM8 since the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules RM arealigned by the first alignment layer 110 in each of the fifth to eighthdomains DM5 to DM8 is substantially the same as the direction in whichthe liquid crystal molecules RM are aligned by the second alignmentlayer 310.

Hereinafter, effects obtained when the first to eighth domains DM1 toDM8 are defined in the first and second sub-pixel areas PA1 and PA2 willbe described through the first and second domains DM1 and DM2.

Referring to FIGS. 1C, 4A, and 5, when the LCD 500 is curved in thefirst direction D1, the misalignment occurs between the displaysubstrate 100 and the opposite substrate 300 by a first length L1.

According to the illustrated exemplary embodiment, however, since thefirst to eighth domains DM1 to DM8 are arranged in the second directionD2 substantially vertical to the first direction D1, the alignmentdefects which are caused by the misalignment do not occur in the firstdomain DM1.

In more detail, when an area AR1 in which the liquid crystal moleculesRM are aligned by the first alignment layer 110 disposed on the displaysubstrate 100 is referred to as a lower alignment area AR1 and an areaAR2 in which the liquid crystal molecules RM are aligned by the secondalignment layer 310 disposed on the opposite substrate 300 is referredto as an upper alignment area AR2, the liquid crystal molecules RM arealigned in the first lower alignment direction LD1 in the loweralignment area AR1 and aligned in the first upper alignment directionUD1 in the upper alignment area AR2. In this case, when the oppositesubstrate 300 is shifted by the first length L1 by the misalignment, aposition of the lower alignment area AR1 matches with a position of thefirst domain DM1, but a position of the upper alignment area AR2 isshifted from the position of the first domain DM1 to the first directionD1 by the first length L1.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, although the position of thelower alignment area AR1 does not match with the upper alignment areaAR2 by the shift of the opposite substrate 300, the lower alignment areaAR1 is overlapped with the upper alignment area AR2 in the first domainDM1. That is, the lower alignment area AR1 is not overlapped withanother upper alignment area, which is aligned in a different directionfrom the upper alignment area AR2, in the first domain DM1.

Accordingly, alignment defects, which are caused by the overlap betweenthe upper alignment area and the lower alignment area aligned in thedifferent direction from the upper alignment area, do not occur in thefirst domain DM1. As a result, a transmittance of the light passingthrough the first domain DM1 may be prevented from being lowered due tothe alignment defects.

Hereinafter, a structure of first and second sub-pixel electrodesaccording to another exemplary embodiment will be described.

FIG. 6A is a plan view showing a pixel of an LCD 501 according toanother exemplary embodiment of the invention and FIG. 6B is a viewshowing domains of the pixel shown in FIG. 6A. In FIGS. 6A and 6B, thesame reference numerals denote the same elements in the above-describedfigures, and thus detailed descriptions of the same elements will beomitted.

Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, different from the first sub-pixelelectrode PE1 shown in FIG. 2, each of second branch portions B2′ of afirst sub-pixel electrode PE1_1 extends in a sixth direction D6 and eachof fourth branch portions B4′ of the first sub-pixel electrode PE1_1extends in a fourth direction D4. In an exemplary embodiment, each ofsixth branch portions B6′ of a second sub-pixel electrode PE2_1 extendsin the sixth direction D6 and each of eighth branch portions B8′ of thesecond sub-pixel electrode PE2_1 extends in the fourth direction D4.

As a result, a first liquid crystal alignment direction DR1substantially parallel to the third direction D3 may be defined in thefirst domain DM1, a second liquid crystal alignment direction DR2substantially parallel to the sixth direction D6 may be defined in thesecond domain DM2, a third liquid crystal alignment direction DR3substantially parallel to the fifth direction D5 may be defined in thethird domain DM3, and a fourth liquid crystal alignment direction DR4substantially parallel to the fourth direction D4 may be defined in thefourth domain DM2. Accordingly, the first, second, third, and fourthliquid crystal alignment directions DR1, DR2, DR3, and DR4, which aredifferent from each other, may be defined in the first to fourth domainsDM1 to DM4.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a pixel of an LCD 502 according to anotherexemplary embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 7, the same referencenumerals denote the same elements in the above-described figures, andthus detailed descriptions of the same elements will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 7, a first sub-pixel electrode PE1_2 includes a firststem connection portion SP1 and a second stem connection portion SP2 anda second sub-pixel electrode PE2-2 includes a third stem connectionportion SP3 and a fourth stem connection portion SP4. Since the first tofourth stem connection portions SP1 to SP4 have the similar structure,the first stem connection portion SP1 will be described in detail as arepresentative example and details of the second to fourth stemconnection portions SP2 to SP4 will be omitted.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the first stem connectionportion SP1 is disposed at a position, at which a first vertical stemportion VS1 cross a first horizontal stem portion HS1, and connected tothe first vertical stem portion VS1 and the first horizontal stemportion HS1. In an exemplary embodiment, the first stem connectionportion SP1 may have a triangular shape when viewed in a plan view.

Different from the illustrated exemplary embodiment, when the first stemconnection portion SP1 is omitted from the first sub-pixel electrodePE1_2, an angle between the first vertical stem portion VS1 and thefirst horizontal stem portion HS1 connected to the first vertical stemportion VS1 is about 90 degrees, and thus an intensity of a first fringefield generated at the position at which the first vertical stem portionVS1 crosses the first horizontal stem portion HS1 is increased. In thiscase, since the first fringe field and a second fringe field having adifferent direction from that of the first fringe field act inopposition to each other, the alignment defects occur in the liquidcrystal molecules in the first and second domains DM1 and DM2 (refer toFIG. 5). In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, however, the anglebetween the first vertical stem portion VS1 and the first horizontalstem portion HS1 connected to the first vertical stem portion VS1 issmaller than 90 degrees by the first stem connection portion SP1. As aresult, the intensity of the first fringe field is reduced and the firstand second fringe fields may be prevented from acting in opposition toeach other, thereby preventing the occurrence of the alignment defects.

FIG. 8A is a plan view showing a pixel of an LCD 503 according toanother exemplary embodiment of the invention and FIG. 8B is an enlargedview showing a first horizontal stem portion shown in FIG. 8A. In FIGS.8A and 8B, the same reference numerals denote the same elements in theabove-described figures, and thus detailed descriptions of the sameelements will be omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, a first sub-pixel electrode PE1_3 includesfirst and second horizontal stem portions HS1′ and HS2′ and a secondsub-pixel electrode PE2_3 includes third and fourth horizontal stemportions HS3′ and HS4′. Since the first, second, third, and fourthhorizontal stem portions HS1′, HS2′, HS3′, and HS4′ have the similarshape, the first horizontal stem portion HS1′ will be described indetail as a representative example.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, a width of the first horizontalstem portion HS1′ becomes smaller as it is farther away from the firstvertical stem portion VS1. In more detail, a first width W1 of the firsthorizontal stem portion HS1′ is greater than a second width W2 of thefirst horizontal stem portion HS1′ as shown in FIG. 8B.

In an exemplary embodiment, when a reference line LT1 crossing a centerportion of the first horizontal stem portion HS1′ is defined and a firstauxiliary line LT2 crossing an edge of the first horizontal stem portionHS1′ and a second auxiliary line LT3 crossing an edge of the other edgeof the first horizontal stem portion HS1′ are defined, a slope betweenthe reference line LT1 and the first auxiliary line LT2 is in a rangefrom about 0.5 degree to about 2.0 degrees and a slope between thereference line LT1 and the second auxiliary line LT3 is in a range fromabout 0.5 degree to about 2.0 degrees.

As the width of the first horizontal stem portion HS1′ is decreased, theintensity of the fringe field acting to the first horizontal stemportion HS1′ is increased. Accordingly, when the width of the firsthorizontal stem portion HS1′ becomes smaller as it is farther away fromthe first vertical stem portion VS1, the intensity of the fringe filedbecomes stronger as it is farther from one end of and closer to theother end of each of the first and second domains DM1 and DM2 (refer toFIG. 5). As a result, the fringe fields acting in different directionsat both ends of the first horizontal stem portion HS1′ have the sameintensity, and thus the alignment defects may be prevented fromoccurring in the liquid crystal molecules due to the fringe fieldsacting in opposition to each other.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a pixel of an LCD 504 according to anotherexemplary embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 9, the same referencenumerals denote the same elements in the above-described figures, andthus detailed descriptions of the same elements will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 9, a first sub-pixel electrode PE1_4 includes a firstbranch connection portion HL1, a second branch connection portion HL2, afirst domain connection portion LP11, and a second domain connectionportion LP12, and a second sub-pixel electrode PE2_4 includes a thirdbranch connection portion HL3, a fourth branch connection portion HL4, athird domain connection portion LP13, and a fourth domain connectionportion LP14.

Since the first to fourth branch connection portions HL1 to HL4 have thesimilar structure and function, the first and second branch connectionportions HL1 and HL2 will be described in detail as representativeexamples. In an exemplary embodiment, since the first and second domainconnection portions LP11 and LP12 have the similar structure andfunction as those of the third and fourth domain connection portionsLP13 and LP14, the first and second domain connection portions LP11 andLP12 will be described in detail as representative examples.

Each of the first and second branch connection portions HL1 and HL2extends in a first direction D1. The first branch connection portion HL1connects edges of the second branch portions B2 to each other and thesecond branch connection portion HL2 connects edges of the third branchportions B3. As a result, a fringe field acting to the edges of thesecond branch portions B2 may be prevented from acting to the thirddomain DM3 (refer to FIG. 5) by the first branch connection portion HL1,and a fringe field acting to the edges of the third branch portions B3may be prevented from acting to the second domain DM2 (refer to FIG. 5)by the second branch connection portion HL2. Thus, the second and thirddomains DM2 and DM3 may be clearly distinct from each other by the firstand second branch connection portions HL1 and HL2.

In the above-described embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the domain connectionportion LP1 (refer to FIG. 2) that connects the second branch portionsB2 and the third branch portions B3 is disposed at the center portion ofthe boundary area between the second and third domains. In theillustrated exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 9, however, the first andsecond domain connection portions LP11 and LP12 are disposed at bothends of the boundary area to connect the second branch portions B2 tothe third branch portions B3.

FIG. 10A is a plan view showing a pixel of an LCD 505 according toanother exemplary embodiment of the invention and FIG. 10B is anenlarged view showing a first vertical stem portion shown in FIG. 10A.In FIGS. 10A and 10B, the same reference numerals denote the sameelements in the above-described figures, and thus detailed descriptionsof the same elements will be omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B, a first sub-pixel electrode PE1_5includes first and second vertical stem portions VS1′ and VS2′ and asecond sub-pixel electrode PE2_5 includes third and fourth vertical stemportions VS3′ and VS4′. Since the first to fourth vertical stem portionsVS1′ to VS4′ have the similar structure and function, the first verticalstem portion VS1′ will be described in detail as a representativeexample.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, a width of the first verticalstem portion VS1′ becomes smaller as it is farther away from a centerportion thereof and closer to an edge thereof in a plan view. In moredetail, a first width W11 of the first vertical stem portion VS1′ isgreater than a second width W12 of the first vertical stem portion VS1′as shown in FIG. 10B.

In an exemplary embodiment, when a reference line LT11 crossing thecenter portion of the first vertical stem portion VS1′ is defined and anauxiliary line LT12 crossing the edge of the first vertical stem portionVS1′ is defined, a slope between the reference line LT11 and theauxiliary line LT12 is in a range from about 0.5 degree to about 2.0degrees.

As the width of the first vertical stem portion VS1′ is decreased, theintensity of the fringe field acting to the first vertical stem portionVS1′ is increased. Accordingly, when the edge of the first vertical stemportion VS1′ corresponds to one end of the first domain DM1 (refer toFIG. 5) and the center portion of the first vertical horizontal portionVS1′ corresponds to the other end of the first domain, the width of thefirst vertical stem portion VS1′ becomes smaller as it is closer to theedge from the center portion, and thus the intensity of the fringe fieldacting to the first vertical stem portion VS1′ becomes stronger as it iscloser to the one end of the first domain DM1 (refer to FIG. 5) from theother end of the first domain DM1. As a result, the fringe fields actingin different directions at both ends of the first vertical stem portionVS1′ have the same intensity, and thus the alignment defects may beprevented from occurring in the liquid crystal molecules due to thefringe fields acting in opposition to each other at both ends of thefirst domain.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a portion of a first sub-pixel electrodePE1_6 of an LCD 506 according to another exemplary embodiment of theinvention. In FIG. 11, the same reference numerals denote the sameelements in the above-described figures, and thus detailed descriptionsof the same elements will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 11, the first sub-pixel electrode PE1_6 includes firstbranch portions B1′ and second branch portions B2′. In the illustratedexemplary embodiment, a width of each of the first branch portions B1′becomes smaller as it is farther away from the first vertical stemportion VS1 or the first horizontal stem portion HS1, and a width ofeach of the second branch portions B2′ becomes smaller as it is fartheraway from the first vertical stem portion VS1 or the first horizontalstem portion HS1. Hereinafter, one first branch portion B1′ of the firstbranch portions B1′ will be described in detail as a representativeexample.

A first width W21 of the first branch portion B1′ is greater than asecond width W22 of the first branch portion B1′. In an exemplaryembodiment, when a reference line LT13 crossing one edge of the firstbranch portion B1′ is defined and an auxiliary line LT14 crossing theother edge of the first branch portion B1′ is defined, a slope betweenthe reference line LT13 and the auxiliary line LT14 is in a range fromabout 0.1 degree to about 0.5 degree.

As the width of the first branch portion B1′ is decreased, the intensityof the fringe field acting to the first branch portion B1′ is increased.Accordingly, when the first branch portion B1′ has the above-describedstructure, the intensity of the fringe field acting to the first branchportion B1′ becomes stronger as it is closer to the other end of thefirst domain DM1 (refer to FIG. 5) from the one end of the first domainDM1. As a result, the fringe fields acting in different directions atboth ends of the first branch portion B1′ have the same intensity, andthus the alignment defects may be prevented from occurring in the liquidcrystal molecules due to the fringe fields acting in opposition to eachother at both ends of the first domain.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a pixel of an LCD 507 according toanother exemplary embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 12, the samereference numerals denote the same elements in the above-describedfigures, and thus detailed descriptions of the same elements will beomitted.

Referring to FIG. 12, a first sub-pixel electrode PE1_7 includes first,second, third, and fourth branch portions B1, B2, B3, and B4 and first,second, third, and fourth sub-branch portions B11, B12, B13, and B14,and a second sub-pixel electrode PE2_7 includes fifth, sixth, seventh,and eighth branch portions B5, B6, B7, and B8 and fifth, sixth, seventh,and eighth sub-branch portions B15 B16, B17, and B18. Since the first toeighth sub-branch portions B11 to B18 have the similar structure andfunction, one first sub-branch portion B11 will be described in detailas a representative example.

A width of the first sub-branch portion B11 is greater than a width ofeach of the first branch portions B1, and thus an intensity of a firstfringe field acting to the first sub-branch portion B11 is smaller thanan intensity of a second fringe field acting to each of the first branchportions B1. Therefore, since the first sub-branch portion B11 isdisposed between two adjacent first branch portions B1 to each other inthe first domain DM1 (refer to FIG. 5), the fringe field acting to thefirst domain may be easily induced from an edge to a center portion ofthe first domain DM1. Thus, alignment defects caused by the uncleardirection of the fringe field in the first domain DM1 may be prevented.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a pixel of an LCD 508 according toanother exemplary embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 13, the samereference numerals denote the same elements in the above-describedfigures, and thus detailed descriptions of the same elements will beomitted.

Referring to FIG. 13, the LCD 508 includes a first sub-pixel electrodePE1_8, a second sub-pixel electrode PE2_8, and first, second, third, andfourth light blocking members BM11, BM12, BM13, and BM14. Since thefirst to fourth light blocking members BM11 to BM14 have the similarstructure and function, the first light blocking member BM11 will bedescribed in detail as a representative example.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, a first vertical stem portionVS1 is spaced apart from edges of the first branch portions B1 and edgesof the second branch portions B2 and connected to the first and secondbranch portions B1 and B2, and a second vertical stem portion VS2 isspaced apart from edges of the third branch portions B3 and edges of thefourth branch portions B4 and connected to the third and fourth branchportions B3 and B4.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, a portion of the first branchportions B1 disposed at one side of the first vertical stem portion VS1extends in a third direction D3 and a portion of the first branchportions B1 disposed at the other side of the first vertical stemportion VS1 extends in a fourth direction D4. In an exemplaryembodiment, a portion of the second branch portions B2 disposed at oneside of the first vertical stem portion VS1 extends in the fourthdirection D4 and a portion of the second branch portions B2 disposed atthe other side of the first vertical stem portion VS1 extends in thethird direction D3.

When the first vertical stem portion VS1, the first branch portions B1,and the second branch portions B2 have the above-described structure inthe first and second domains DM1 and DM2 (refer to FIG. 5), the liquidcrystal alignment directions may be defined by the directions in whichthe first and second branch portions B1 and B2 extend in the first andsecond domains. Thus, the liquid crystal alignment directions crossingeach other in each of the first and second domains with respect to thefirst vertical stem portion VS1. When the LCD 508 is curved in the firstdirection D1, abnormal alignments may partially occur in each of thefirst and second domains DM1 and DM2.

Therefore, the first light blocking member BM11 may be overlapped with aportion of the first branch portions B1, which extends in the fourthdirection, and a portion of the second branch portions B2, which extendsin the third direction. As a result, the first light blocking memberBM11 covers the portions in which the abnormal alignments occurs in eachof the first and second domains, and thus the abnormal alignments of theLCD 508 is not perceived by the user.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, each of the first to fourthlight blocking members BM11 to BM14 may include a material that blocksthe light, e.g., a black matrix, and the first to fourth light blockingmembers BM11 to BM14 may be disposed on the second base substrate S2(refer to FIG. 3A), but the first to fourth light blocking members BM11to BM14 should not be limited thereto or thereby. According to anotherexemplary embodiment, the first to fourth light blocking members BM11 toBM14 may be disposed on the first base substrate 51 (refer to FIG. 3A)of the LCD 508.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a pixel of an LCD according to anotherexemplary embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 14, the same referencenumerals denote the same elements in the above-described figures, andthus detailed descriptions of the same elements will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 14, an LCD 510 includes a pixel electrode PE-1including a first sub-pixel electrode PE10 and a second sub-pixelelectrode PE20. In an exemplary embodiment, the first sub-pixelelectrode PE10 includes first domain connection portions LP20 and thesecond sub-pixel electrode PE20 includes second domain connectionportions LP21.

The first domain connection portions LP20 is disposed between the seconddomain DM2 (refer to FIG. 5) and the third domain DM3 (refer to FIG. 5)and each of the first domain connection portions LP20 connects thesecond and third branch portions B2 and B3. The second domain connectionportions LP21 is disposed between the sixth domain DM6 (refer to FIG. 5)and the seventh domain DM7 (refer to FIG. 5) and each of the seconddomain connection portions LP21 connects the sixth and seventh branchportions B6 and B7. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the firstdomain connection portions LP20 is disposed at a center portion betweenthe second and third domains, and the second domain connection portionsLP21 is disposed at a center portion between the sixth and seventhdomains.

Hereinafter, the structure of the first domain connection portions LP20and the second domain connection portions LP21 will be described indetail with reference to FIGS. 15A and 15B.

FIG. 15A is an enlarged view showing the first sub-pixel electrode shownin FIG. 14 and FIG. 15B is an enlarged view showing the second sub-pixelelectrode shown in FIG. 14.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 15A, the first sub-pixel electrode PE10includes first domain connection portions LP20, e.g., two first domainconnection portions. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, since thefirst domain connection portions LP20 have the similar structure andfunction, one first domain connection portion LP20 will be described indetail as a representative example.

The first domain connection portion LP20 connects one of the secondbranch portions B2 to one of the third branch portions B3. For theconvenience of explanation, when the one second branch portion B2connected to the first domain connection portion LP20 is referred to asa first connection branch portion B2-11 and one third branch portion B3connected to the first domain connection portion LP20 is referred to asa second connection branch portion B3-11, one end of the first domainconnection portion LP20 is connected to the first connection branchportion B2-11 and the other end of the first domain connection potionLP20 is connected to the second connection branch portion B3-11.

The first domain connection portion LP20 extends in a direction inclinedwith respect to the first and second directions D1 and D2 when viewed ina plan view, and the first connection branch portion B2-11, the firstdomain connection portion LP20, and the second connection branch portionB3-11 are connected to each other in a zigzag shape. In the illustratedexemplary embodiment, a first connection angle A11 between the firstdomain connection portion LP11 and the first connection branch portionB2-11 is in a range from about 60 degrees to about 120 degrees and asecond connection angle A12 between the first domain connection portionLP20 and the second connection branch portion B3-11 is in a range fromabout 60 degrees to about 120 degrees. In an exemplary embodiment, whenan acute angle between the first direction D1 and the direction in whicheach of the first connection branch portion B2-11, the second connectionbranch portion B3-11, and the first domain connection portion LP20extends is about 45 degrees, each of the first and second connectionangles A11 and A12 is about 90 degrees, for example.

When the first connection branch portion B2-11, the first domainconnection portion LP20, and the second connection branch portion B3-11are connected to each other in the zigzag shape, the following effectsoccur.

As described with reference to FIGS. 4B and 4C, the liquid crystalmolecules RM (refer to FIG. 4B) are aligned in the second liquid crystalalignment direction DR2 in response to the electric field generatedbetween the common electrode CE (refer to FIG. 4B) and the firstsub-pixel electrode PE10 in the second domain DM2, and the liquidcrystal molecules RM are aligned in the third liquid crystal alignmentdirection DR3 in the third domain DM3 in response to the electric field.That is, the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules are alignedin the second domain DM2 is different from the direction in which theliquid crystal molecules are aligned in the third domain DM3, and thedisplay quality of the LCD may be improved as the directions in whichthe liquid crystal molecules are aligned are clearly distinct from eachother.

Different from the illustrated exemplary embodiment, when each of thefirst and second connection angles A11 and A12 exceeds about 120degrees, i.e., in a range from about 135 degrees to about 180 degrees,the first domain connection portion LP20 is connected to the first andsecond connection branches B2-11 and B3-11 at a gradual degree.Therefore, the first and second connection branch portions B2-11 andB3-11 are connected to each other by the first domain connection portionLP20 may serve as one branch portion extending from the second domainDM2 to the third domain DM3. As a result, due to the first and secondconnection branch portions B2-11 and B3-11 crossing through the secondand third domains DM2 and DM3 and acting as one branch portion, thedirections in which the liquid crystal molecules are aligned are notclearly distinct from each other in the second and third domains DM2 andDM3, and thus the display quality of the LCD including the firstsub-pixel area PA1 may be deteriorated. According to the illustratedexemplary embodiment, however, since the first connection branch portionB2-11, the first domain connection portion LP20, and the secondconnection branch portion B3-11 are connected to each other in thezigzag shape, the first and second connection branch portions B2-11 andB3-11 may be prevented from acting as one branch portion that extendsfrom the second domain DM2 to the third domain DM3.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 15B, the second sub-pixel electrode PE20includes second domain connection portions LP21, e.g., two second domainconnection portions. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the seconddomain connection portions LP21 are disposed at a center portion of aboundary area between the sixth domain DM6 and the seventh domain DM7.

Hereinafter, one second domain connection portion LP21 will be describedin detail as a representative example. The second domain connectionportion LP21 connects one of sixth branch portions B6 and one of seventhbranch portions B7. When one sixth branch portion B6 connected to thesecond domain connection portion LP21 is referred to as a thirdconnection branch portion B6-11 and one seventh branch portion B7connected to the second domain connection portion LP21 is referred to asa fourth connection branch portion B7-11, one end of the second domainconnection portion LP21 is connected to the third connection branchportion B6-11 and the other end of the second domain connection portionLP21 is connected to the fourth connection branch portion B7-11.

The second domain connection portion LP21 extends in a directioninclined with respect to the first and second directions D1 and D2, andthe third connection branch portion B6-11, the second domain connectionportion LP21, and the fourth connection branch portion B7-11 areconnected to each other in a zigzag shape. Similar to the first andsecond connection angles A11 and A12 (refer to FIG. 6A) described withreference to FIG. 6, each of third and fourth connection angles A13 andA14 may be in a range from about 60 degrees to about 120 degrees.

As described above, since the third connection branch portion B6-11, thesecond domain connection portion LP21, and the fourth connection branchportion B7-11 are connected to each other in the zigzag shape over thesixth and seventh domains DM6 and DM7, the third and fourth connectionbranch portions B6-11 and B7-11 may be prevented from acting as onebranch portion that extends from the sixth domain DM6 to the seventhdomain DM7. As a result, the directions in which the liquid crystalmolecules are aligned are clearly distinct from each other in the sixthand seventh domains DM6 and DM7, and thus the display quality of the LCDincluding the second sub-pixel area PA2 may be improved.

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing a pixel of an LCD 511 according toanother exemplary embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 16, the samereference numerals denote the same elements in the above-describedfigures, and thus detailed descriptions of the same elements will beomitted.

Referring to FIG. 16, the LCD 511 includes a first sub-pixel electrodePE11 and a second sub-pixel electrode PE21, the first sub-pixelelectrode PE11 includes first domain connection portions LP22, and thesecond sub-pixel electrode PE21 includes second domain connectionportions LP23. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the first domainconnection portions LP22 have the similar shape and function as those ofthe second domain connection portions LP23, the first domain connectionportions LP22 will be described in detail as representative examples.

According to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 15A, the firstdomain connection portions LP20 are disposed at the center portion ofthe boundary area BA, but the first domain connection portions LP22 aredisposed at edges of the boundary area in a one-to-one correspondence inthe exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 16.

Similar to the exemplary embodiment described with reference to FIG.15A, each of the first domain connection portions LP22 is connected tothe second branch portion B2 and the third branch portion B3 in a zigzagshape. Accordingly, the directions in which the liquid crystal moleculesare aligned are clearly distinct from each other in the domain in whichthe second branch portion B2 is disposed and in the domain in which thethird branch portion B3 is disposed by the first domain connectionportions LP22, the display quality of the LCD 511 may be improved.

FIG. 17 is a plan view showing a pixel of an LCD 512 according toanother exemplary embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 17, the samereference numerals denote the same elements in the above-describedfigures, and thus detailed descriptions of the same elements will beomitted.

Referring to FIG. 17, the LCD 512 includes a first sub-pixel electrodePE12 and a second sub-pixel electrode PE22, the first sub-pixelelectrode PE12 includes first domain connection portions LP24, and thesecond sub-pixel electrode PE22 includes second domain connectionportions LP25.

The first domain connection portions LP24 are arranged in a boundaryarea between the second and third domains DM2 and DM3 (refer to FIG. 5)and spaced apart from each other at a regular pitch, and the seconddomain connection portions LP25 are arranged in a boundary area betweenthe sixth and seventh domains DM6 and DM7 (refer to FIG. 5) and spacedapart from each other at a regular pitch

Similar to the exemplary embodiment described with reference to FIG.15A, each of the first domain connection portions LP24 is connected tothe second branch portion B2 and the third branch portion B3 in a zigzagshape, and each of the second domain connection portions LP25 isconnected to the sixth branch portion B6 and the seventh branch portionB7 in the zigzag shape. Accordingly, the directions in which the liquidcrystal molecules are aligned are clearly distinct from each other inthe domain in which the second branch portion B2 is disposed and in thedomain in which the third branch portion B3 is disposed by the firstdomain connection portions LP24, and the directions in which the liquidcrystal molecules are aligned are clearly distinct from each other inthe domain in which the sixth branch portion B6 is disposed and in thedomain in which the seventh branch portion B7 is disposed by the seconddomain connection portions LP25, thereby improving the display qualityof the LCD 512.

FIG. 18 is a plan view showing a pixel of an LCD 513 according toanother exemplary embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 18, the samereference numerals denote the same elements in the above-describedfigures, and thus detailed descriptions of the same elements will beomitted.

The LCD 513 includes a pixel electrode PE-2 including a first sub-pixelelectrode PE13 and a second sub-pixel electrode PE23.

The first sub-pixel electrode PE13 includes first, second, third, andfourth branch portions B1-1, B2-1, B3-1, and B4-1 and first, second,third, and fourth sub-branch portions B1-2, B2-2, B3-2, and B4-2.

A first vertical stem portion VS1 is connected to a first horizontalstem portion HS1, edges of the first sub-branch portions B1-2, and edgesof the second sub-branch portions B2-2, and a second vertical stemportion VS2 is connected to a second horizontal stem portion HS2, edgesof the third sub-branch portions B3-2, and edges of the fourthsub-branch portions B4-2. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, eachof the first and second vertical stem portions VS1 and VS2 extends in asecond direction D2 and crosses a first direction D1 in which the LCD513 is curved. In an exemplary embodiment, the second direction D2 maybe substantially perpendicular to the first direction D1.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the first sub-branch portionsB1-2 are symmetrical with the second sub-branch portions B2-2 withrespect to the first horizontal stem portion HS1 when viewed in a planview, and the third sub-branch portions B3-2 are symmetrical with thefourth sub-branch portions B4-2 with respect to the second horizontalstem portion HS2 when viewed in a plan view.

The first horizontal stem portion HS1 is connected to the first verticalstem portion VS1, edges of the first branch portions B1-1, and edges ofthe second branch portions B2-1. In the illustrated exemplaryembodiment, the first horizontal stem portion HS1 extends in the firstdirection D1 and is branched from a center portion of the first verticalstem portion VS1. The first branch portions B1-1 are symmetrical withthe second branch portions B2-1 with respect to the first horizontalstem portion HS1, and the first horizontal stem portion HS1 is disposedbetween the first and second domains DM1 and DM2 (refer to FIG. 5).

The second horizontal stem portion HS2 is connected to the secondvertical stem portion VS2, edges of the third branch portions B3-1, andedges of the fourth branch portions B4-1. In the illustrated exemplaryembodiment, the second horizontal stem portion HS2 extends in the firstdirection D1 and is branched from a center portion of the secondvertical stem portion VS2. The third branch portions B3-1 aresymmetrical with the fourth branch portions B4-1 with respect to thesecond horizontal stem portion HS2, and the second horizontal stemportion HS2 is disposed between the third and fourth domains DM3 and DM4(refer to FIG. 5).

Each of the first branch portions B1-1 and each of the first sub-branchportions B1-2 extend in a third direction D3 inclined with respect tothe first and second directions D1 and D2 when viewed in a plan view.Each of the second branch portions B2-1 and each of the secondsub-branch portions B2-2 extend in a fourth direction D4 inclined withrespect to the first and second directions D1 and D2 when viewed in aplan view. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the fourth directionD4 may cross the third direction D3. In an exemplary embodiment, thethird and fourth directions D3 and D4 may be substantially perpendicularto each other when viewed in a plan view, and each of the third andfourth directions D3 and D4 may define an angle of about 45 degrees withthe first direction D1 or the second direction D2.

Each of the third branch portions B3-1 and each of the third sub-branchportions B3-2 extend in a fifth direction D5 inclined with respect tothe first and second directions D1 and D2 when viewed in a plan view.Each of the fourth branch portions B4-1 and each of the fourthsub-branch portions B4-2 extend in a sixth direction D6 inclined withrespect to the first and second directions D1 and D2 when viewed in aplan view. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the sixth directionD6 may cross the fifth direction D5. In an exemplary embodiment, thefifth and sixth directions D5 and D6 may be substantially perpendicularto each other when viewed in a plan view, and each of the fifth andsixth directions D5 and D6 may define an angle of about 45 degrees withthe first direction D1 or the second direction D2.

The second sub-pixel electrode PE23 includes a third horizontal stemportion HS3, a fourth horizontal stem portion HS4, a third vertical stemportion VS3, a fourth vertical stem portion VS4, fifth, sixth, seventh,and eighth branch portions B5-1, B6-1, B7-1, and B8-1, and fifth, sixth,seventh, and eighth sub-branch portions B5-2, B6-2, B7-2, and B8-2.

The third vertical stem portion VS3 extends in the second direction D2and is connected to the third horizontal stem portion HS3, edges of thefifth sub-branch portions B5-2, and edges of the sixth sub-branchportions B6-2. The fourth vertical stem portion VS4 extends in thesecond direction D2 and is connected to the fourth horizontal stemportion HS4, edges of the seventh sub-branch portions B7-2, and edges ofthe eighth sub-branch portions B8-2.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the fifth sub-branch portionsB5-2 are symmetrical with the sixth sub-branch portions B6-2 withrespect to the third horizontal stem portion HS3 when viewed in a planview, and the seventh sub-branch portions B7-2 are symmetrical with theeighth sub-branch portions B8-2 with respect to the fourth horizontalstem portion HS4 when viewed in a plan view.

The third horizontal stem portion HS3 is connected to the third verticalstem portion VS3, edges of the fifth branch portions B5-1, and edges ofthe sixth branch portions B6-1. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment,the third horizontal stem portion HS3 extends in the first direction D1and is branched from a center portion of the third vertical stem portionVS3. The fifth branch portions B5-1 are symmetrical with the sixthbranch portions B6-1 with respect to the third horizontal stem portionHS3, and the third horizontal stem portion HS3 is disposed between thefifth and sixth domains DM5 and DM6 (refer to FIG. 5).

The fourth horizontal stem portion HS4 is connected to the fourthvertical stem portion VS4, edges of the seventh branch portions B7-1,and edges of the eighth branch portions B8-1. In the illustratedexemplary embodiment, the fourth horizontal stem portion HS4 extends inthe first direction D1 and is branched from a center portion of thefourth vertical stem portion VS4. The seventh branch portions B7-1 aresymmetrical with the eighth branch portions B8-1 with respect to thefourth horizontal stem portion HS4, and the fourth horizontal stemportion HS4 is disposed between the seventh and eighth domains DM7 andDM8 (refer to FIG. 5).

Each of the fifth branch portions B5-1 and each of the fifth sub-branchportions B5-2 extend in the third direction D3 when viewed in a planview, and each of the sixth branch portions B6-1 and each of the sixthsub-branch portions B6-2 extend in the fourth direction D4 when viewedin a plan view. In an exemplary embodiment, each of the seventh branchportions B7-1 and each of the seventh sub-branch portions B7-2 extend inthe fifth direction D5 when viewed in a plan view, and each of theeighth branch portions B8-1 and each of the eighth sub-branch portionsB8-2 extend in the sixth direction D6 when viewed in a plan view.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged view showing a portion of the first sub-pixelelectrode shown in FIG. 18.

Referring to FIG. 19, the first sub-pixel electrode PE13 includes thefirst vertical stem portion VS1, the first horizontal stem portion HS1,the first branch portions B1-1, and the first sub-branch portions B1-2.The first branch portions B1-1 are connected to the first horizontalstem portion HS1 and the first sub-branch portions B1-2 are connected tothe first vertical stem portion VS1.

When each of the first branch portions B1-1 has a first width W1-1 andeach of the first sub-branch portions B1-2 has a second width W2-1, thesecond width W2-1 is greater than the first width W1-1. In theillustrated exemplary embodiment, the second width W2-1 corresponds toabout 3 percent (%) to about 50% of the first width W1-1. In anexemplary embodiment, when the first width W1-1 is about 3 micrometers(μm), the second width W2-1 may be about 0.10 μm to about 1.5 μm. In anexemplary embodiment, similar to the first branch portions B1-1 and thefirst sub-branch portions B1-2, a width of each of the second sub-branchportions B2-2 is smaller than a width of each of the second branchportions B2-1.

As described above, when the width of each of the first sub-branchportions B1-2 is smaller than the width of each of the first branchportions B1-1, a first distance L1-1 between two adjacent firstsub-branch portions among the first sub-branch portions B1-2 is greaterthan a second distance L2-1 between two adjacent first branch portionsamong the first branch portions B1-1. Therefore, the intensity of thefringe field applied to each of the first sub-branch portions B1-2 maybe greater than the intensity of the fringe field applied to each of thefirst branch portions B1-1.

In an exemplary embodiment, since the width of the second sub-branchportions B2-2 is smaller than the width of each of the second branchportions B2-1, a distance between two adjacent second sub-branchportions among the second sub-branch portions B2-2 is greater than adistance between two adjacent second branch portions among the secondbranch portions B2-1. Thus, the intensity of the fringe field applied toeach of the second sub-branch portions B2-2 may be greater than theintensity of the fringe field applied to each of the second branchportions B2-1.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, an electric field generated bythe first branch portions B1-1, the second branch portions B2-1, thefirst sub-branch portions B1-2, and the second sub-branch portions B2-2and directed to the first vertical stem portion VS1 from an inner sideof the first and second domains DM1 and DM2 (refer to FIG. 5) isreferred to as an inner fringe field. The intensity of the inner fringefield may be increased by the structure of the first and secondsub-branch portions B1-2 and B2-2. As a result, when an electric fielddirected to the first vertical stem portion VS1 from an outer side ofthe first and second domains DM1 and DM2 is referred to as an outerelectric field, the intensity of the inner fringe field may be strongerthan the intensity of the outer electric field.

When the intensity of the inner fringe field is stronger than theintensity of the outer electric field, the following effects may beobtained. When the intensity of the inner fringe field is equal to orsmaller than the intensity of the outer electric field while the liquidcrystal molecules are aligned by the inner fringe field in the first andsecond domains, the liquid crystal molecules are not normally aligned inan area in which the inner fringe field is overlapped with the outerelectric field since the inner fringe field acts in opposite directionto the outer electric field. However, when the intensity of the innerfringe field becomes stronger by using the structure of the first andsecond sub-branch portions B1-2 and B2-2 as described in the illustratedexemplary embodiment, the intensity of the inner fringe field becomesgreater than the intensity of the outer electric field. As a result, theinner fringe field more strongly acts on the first and second domainsthan the outer electric field, and thus the liquid crystal molecules maybe easily aligned.

FIG. 20 is an enlarged view showing a portion of a first sub-pixelelectrode of an LCD according to another exemplary embodiment of theinvention. In FIG. 20, the same reference numerals denote the sameelements in the above-described figures, and thus detailed descriptionsof the same elements will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 20, a first sub-pixel electrode PE14 includes a firstvertical stem portion VS1, a first horizontal stem portion HS1, firstbranch portions B1-1, second branch portions B2-1, first sub-branchportions B1-2′, and second sub-branch portions B2-2′. The first branchportions B1-1 are connected to the first horizontal stem portion HS1 andthe first sub-branch portions B1-2′ are connected to the first verticalstem portion VS1. In an exemplary embodiment, the second branch portionsB2-1 are connected to the first horizontal stem portion HS1 and thesecond sub-branch portions B2-2′ are connected to the first verticalstem portion VS1.

Hereinafter, a structure of the first sub-branch portions B1-2′ will bedescribed in detail. Each of the first sub-branch portions B1-2′includes a first portion P1 and a second portion P2. The first portionP1 is connected to the first vertical stem portion VS1 and the secondportion P2 is connected to the first vertical stem portion VS1 while thefirst portion P1 is disposed between the second portion P2 and the firstvertical stem portion VS1.

A width of the first portion P1 is smaller than a width of the secondportion P2. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the width of thefirst portion P1 corresponds to about 3% to about 50% of the width ofthe second portion P2. In an exemplary embodiment, a length L3 of thefirst portion P1 may be smaller than a length L4 of the second portionP2. In an exemplary embodiment, the length L3 of the first portion P1corresponds to about 10% to about 50% of the length L4 of the secondportion P2.

Since each of the first sub-branch portions B1-2′ and each of the secondsub-branch portions B2-2′ include the first portion P1 with the widthsmaller than that of the second portion P2, the intensity of the innerfringe field described with reference to FIG. 19 may be increased. As aresult, the intensity of the inner fringe field may be greater than theintensity of the outer electric field described with reference to FIG.19, and thus the inner fringe field more strongly acts on the first andsecond domains DM1 and DM2 (refer to FIG. 5) than the outer electricfield, thereby easily aligning the liquid crystal molecules.

FIG. 21 is an enlarged view showing a portion of a first sub-pixelelectrode of an LCD according to another exemplary embodiment of theinvention. In FIG. 21, the same reference numerals denote the sameelements in the above-described figures, and thus detailed descriptionsof the same elements will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 21, a first sub-pixel electrode PE15 of the LCDincludes first branch portions B1-1, second branch portions B2-1, firstsub-branch portions B1-20, and second sub-branch portions B2-20. Thefirst branch portions B1-1 are connected to the first horizontal stemportion HS1, the first sub-branch portions B1-20 are connected to thefirst vertical stem portion VS1, the second branch portions B2-1 areconnected to the first horizontal stem portion HS1, and the secondsub-branch portions B2-20 are connected to the first vertical stemportion VS1.

Among the first and second sub-branch portions B1-20 and B2-20, thefirst sub-branch portions B1-20 will be described in detail. Each of thefirst sub-branch portions B1-20 includes a first branch electrode B1-21,a second branch electrode B1-22, a third branch electrode B1-23, and afourth branch electrode B1-24. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment,the first, second, third, and fourth branch electrodes B1-21, B1-22,B1-23, and B1-24 are sequentially arranged from an outer side of thefirst sub-pixel electrode PE15 to an inner side of the first sub-pixelelectrode PE15.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, a width of each of the firstsub-branch portions B1-20 is smaller than a width of each of the firstbranch portions B1-1. That is, a width of each of the first, second,third, and fourth branch electrodes B1-21, B1-22, B1-23, and B1-24 issmaller than a width of each of the first branch portions B1-1.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first sub-branch portions B1-20 may havedifferent widths from each other. In the illustrated exemplaryembodiment, the width of the first sub-branch portions B1-20 becomessmaller as it is closer to the outer side of the first sub-pixelelectrode PE15. That is, a width of the first branch electrode B1-21 issmaller than a width of the second branch electrode B1-22, the width ofthe second branch electrode B1-22 is smaller than a width of the thirdbranch electrode B1-23, and the width of the third branch electrodeB1-23 is smaller than a width of the fourth branch electrode B1-24.

Similarly, the second sub-branch portions B2-20 may have differentwidths from each other. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, thewidth of the second sub-branch portions B2-20 becomes smaller as it iscloser to the outer side of the first sub-pixel electrode PE15. That is,a width of the first branch electrode B2-21 is smaller than a width ofthe second branch electrode B2-22, the width of the second branchelectrode B2-22 is smaller than a width of the third branch electrodeB2-23, and the width of the third branch electrode B2-23 is smaller thana width of the fourth branch electrode B2-24.

When the first and second sub-branch portions B1-20 and B2-20 have theabove-described structure, the width of each of the first sub-branchportions B1-20 is smaller than the width of each of the first branchportions B1-1 and the width of each of the second sub-branch portionsB2-20 is smaller than the width of each of the second branch portionB2-1 as described with reference to FIG. 19. Accordingly, the intensityof the inner fringe field described with reference to FIG. 19 may beincreased. As a result, the intensity of the inner fringe field may begreater than that of the outer electric field and the inner fringe fieldmore strongly acts on the first and second domains DM1 and DM2 (refer toFIG. 5) than the outer electric field, thereby easily aligning theliquid crystal molecules.

FIG. 22 is a plan view showing a pixel electrode of an LCD 514 accordingto another exemplary embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 22, the samereference numerals denote the same elements in the above-describedfigures, and thus detailed descriptions of the same elements will beomitted.

Referring to FIG. 22, the LCD 514 includes a pixel electrode PE-3 whichis disposed in a pixel area PA and includes a first sub-pixel electrodePE16 disposed in a first sub-pixel area PA1 and a second sub-pixelelectrode PE26 disposed in a second sub-pixel area PA2.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the first sub-pixel electrodePE16 includes first sub-branch portions B1-2, second sub-branch portionsB2-2, third sub-branch portions

B3-2, and fourth sub-branch portions B4-2, and the second sub-pixelelectrode PE26 includes fifth sub-branch portions B5-2′, sixthsub-branch portions B6-2′, seventh sub-branch portions B7-2′, and eighthsub-branch portions B8-2′.

As described with reference to FIG. 19, each of the first branchportions B1-1 has the first width W1-1 (refer to FIG. 19) and each ofthe first sub-branch portions B1-2 has the second width W2-1 (refer toFIG. 19) smaller than the first width. In the illustrated exemplaryembodiment, a width of each of the fifth branch portions B5-1 is equalto the first width W1-1, a width of the fifth sub-branch portions B5-2′is smaller than the second width W2-1, a width of each of the sixthsub-branch portions B6-2′ is smaller than the second width W2-1, a widthof each of the seventh sub-branch portions B7-2′ is smaller than thesecond width W2-1, and a width of each of the eighth sub-branch portionsB8-2′ is smaller than the second width W2-1.

As described above, when the width of each of the fifth, sixth, seventhand eighth sub-branch potions B5-2′, B6-2′, B7-2′ and B8-2′ is smallerthan the width of each of the first, second, third, and fourthsub-branch portions B1-2, B2-2, B3-2, and B4-2 of the first sub-pixelelectrode PE16, the degree in increase of the intensity of the secondinner fringe field acting on the fifth to eighth domains DM5 to DM8 bythe fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth sub-branch portions B5-2′, B6-2′,B7-2′, and B8-2′ is greater than the degree in increase of the intensityof the first inner fringe field acting on the first to fourth domainsDM1 to DM4 by the first, second, third, and fourth sub-branch portionsB1-2, B2-2, B3-2, and B4-2.

Thus, as described above, when the second inner fringe field becomesstronger by using the structure of the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighthsub-branch portions B5-2′, B6-2′, B7-2′, and B8-2′, the liquid crystalmolecules arranged corresponding to the second sub-pixel electrode PE26may be easily aligned by using the second inner fringe field thatbecomes strong even though the size of the second sub-pixel electrodePE26 is smaller than the size of the first sub-pixel electrode PE16.

FIG. 23 is a view showing alignment directions of liquid crystalmolecules in domains defined in pixels according to another exemplaryembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 23 shows eight pixel areas defined in the display area DA (refer toFIG. 1B) of the display substrate 100 (refer to FIG. 1B) asrepresentative examples. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, theeight pixel areas will be referred to as first to eighth pixel areasPA11 to PA18.

As described above, each of the first to eighth pixel areas PA11 to PA18includes the first sub-pixel area PA1 and the second sub-pixel area PA2,and a unit domain group UDM configured to include first to fourthdomains DM1 to DM4 is defined in each of the first and second sub-pixelareas PA1 and PA2. In this case, the unit domain group UDM is defined inthe first to eighth pixel areas PA11 to PA18, and thus the number of theunit domain group UDM is sixteen.

In an exemplary embodiment, the liquid crystal alignment directions ofthe first to fourth domains DM1 to DM4 are different from each other ineach unit domain group UDM. In an exemplary embodiment, the liquidcrystal molecules are aligned in the first liquid crystal alignmentdirection DR1 in the first domain DM1, the liquid crystal molecules arealigned in the second liquid crystal alignment direction DR2 in thefirst domain DM2, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned in the thirdliquid crystal alignment direction DR3 in the third domain DM3, and theliquid crystal molecules are aligned in the fourth liquid crystalalignment direction DR4 in the fourth domain DM4.

A plurality of groups each configured to include first to fourth domainsDM1 to DM4 defined in each of the first to eighth pixel areas PA11 toPA18 is arranged in a matrix form. A row direction of the matrix form issubstantially parallel to the first direction D1 and a column directionof the matrix form is substantially parallel to the second direction D2.As a result, the first to fourth domains DM1 to DM4 are arranged insixteen rows by four columns in the matrix form.

Hereinafter, an arrangement pattern of the first to fourth domains DM1to DM4 in the matrix form will be described in detail.

In the matrix form, the liquid crystal alignment directions aredifferent from each other in at least two domains among domains arrangedin the same row direction. That is, the liquid crystal alignmentdirections are different from each other in the domains arranged in thesame row direction of the matrix form. In an exemplary embodiment, thefirst domain DM1 and the third domain DM3 are alternately arranged witheach other in a first row and the second domain DM2 and the fourthdomain DM4 are alternately arranged with each other in a second row, forexample. That is, any one of the first to fourth domains DM1 to DM4 isnot successively arranged in the first row or the second row of thematrix form.

Different from the illustrated exemplary embodiment, when the liquidcrystal alignment directions are the same in the domains arranged in thesame row direction, a refractive index anisotropy of the liquid crystalmolecules is varied depending on a viewing direction against the displaysubstrate. As a result, a brightness perceived in a left side of thedisplay substrate 100 is different from a brightness perceived in aright side of the display substrate 100. However, according to theillustrated exemplary embodiment, when the first to fourth domains DM1to DM4 are arranged in the above-described arrangement pattern in thematrix form, the variation in the refractive index anisotropy of theliquid crystal molecules, which is caused by the viewing directionagainst the display substrate, may be minimized Therefore, a differencein brightness between the left and right sides of the display substrate100 (refer to FIG. 1B) is reduced, and thus the display quality of thedisplay substrate is improved.

In an exemplary embodiment, the arrangement of the first to fourthdomains DM1 to DM4 is constant in the unit domain groups UDM as shown inFIG. 23. In an exemplary embodiment, according to two unit domain groupsUDM adjacent to each other in a first column of the matrix form, thefirst to fourth domains DM1 to DM4 are sequentially arranged in each ofthe two unit domain groups UDM along the second direction D2.

FIG. 24 is a view showing alignment directions of liquid crystalmolecules in domains defined in pixels according to another exemplaryembodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 23 and 24, the arrangement pattern of the domainsarranged in the same column of the matrix form according to theillustrated exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 23 is the same as thearrangement pattern of the domains arranged in the same column of thematrix form according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment shown inFIG. 24, but the arrangement pattern of the domains arranged in the samerow according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 23is different from the arrangement pattern of the domains arranged in thesame row according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment shown in FIG.24. Hereinafter, the arrangement pattern of the domains arranged in thesame row will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 24.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, m (“m” is a natural numberequal to or larger than 2) first domains DM1 successively arranged arealternately arranged with k (“k” is a natural number equal to or largerthan 2) third domains DM3 successively arranged in an n-th (“n” is anatural number) row of the matrix form. In an exemplary embodiment, msecond domains DM2 successively arranged are alternately arranged with kfourth domains DM4 successively arranged in an (n+1)th row of the matrixform.

In an exemplary embodiment, two first domains DM1 are successivelyarranged and two third domains DM3 are successively arranged in thefirst row of the matrix form, for example. Although not shown infigures, another two first domains DM1 are successively arrangedfollowing the two third domains DM3, and then another two third domainsDM3 are successively arranged.

In an exemplary embodiment, two second domains DM2 are successivelyarranged and two fourth domains DM4 are successively arranged in thesecond row of the matrix form, for example. Although not shown infigures, another two second domains DM2 are successively arrangedfollowing the two fourth domains DM4, and then another two fourthdomains DM4 are successively arranged.

According to another exemplary embodiment, six first domains DM1successively arranged may be alternately arranged with six third domainsDM3 successively arranged in the first row of the matrix form, and sixsecond domains DM2 successively arranged may be alternately arrangedwith six fourth domains DM6 successively arranged in the second row ofthe matrix form.

FIG. 25 is a view showing alignment directions of liquid crystalmolecules in domains defined in pixels according to another exemplaryembodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 23 and 25, the arrangement pattern of the domainsarranged in the same row of the matrix form according to the illustratedexemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 23 is the same as the arrangementpattern of the domains arranged in the same row of the matrix formaccording to the illustrated exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 25, butthe arrangement pattern of the domains arranged in the same columnaccording to the illustrated exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 23 isdifferent from the arrangement pattern of the domains arranged in thesame column according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment shown inFIG. 24.

In detail, the arrangements of the first to fourth domains DM1 to DM4are the same in the unit domain groups UDM according to the illustratedexemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 23, but the arrangements of the firstto fourth domains DM1 to DM4 are different from each other in at leasttwo unit domain groups UDM of the unit domain groups UDM.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first, second, third, and fourth domainsDM1, DM2, DM3, and DM4 are sequentially arranged in one unit domaingroup of two adjacent unit domain groups UDM to each other in the firstcolumn of the matrix form along the second direction D2. The third,fourth, first, and second domains DM3, DM4, DM1, and DM2 aresequentially arranged in the other unit domain group of two adjacentunit domain groups UDM to each other in the first column of the matrixform along the second direction D2.

FIG. 26 is a plan view showing a pixel of an LCD 515 according toanother exemplary embodiment of the invention, FIG. 27A is across-sectional view taken along line IV-IV′ of FIG. 26, FIG. 27B is across-sectional view taken along line V-V′ of FIG. 26, and FIG. 27C is across-sectional view taken along line VI-VI′ of FIG. 26.

Referring to FIGS. 26, 27A, 27B, and 27C, a display substrate 100-1 ofthe LCD 515 includes a first base substrate S1, a gate line GL, a firstdata line DL1, a second data line DL2, a first TFT TR1, a second TFTTR2, a pixel electrode PE-4, a color filter CF, a first alignment layer110, a first shielding electrode SCE1, and a second shielding electrodeSCE2.

The pixel electrode PE-4 includes a first sub-pixel electrode PE17disposed in a first sub-pixel area PA1 and a second sub-pixel electrodePE27 disposed in a second sub-pixel area PA2.

The color filter CF is disposed on the second insulating layer L2 tocorrespond to an optical path of the liquid crystal layer LC, throughwhich the light passes, and filters the light into the color light. Thefirst sub-pixel electrode PE17 is disposed on the color filter CF andmakes contact with the first drain electrode DE1 through a contact holedefined through the second insulating layer L2 and the color filter CF.

The second sub-pixel electrode PE27 is disposed on the color filter CFand makes contact with the second drain electrode DE2 through a contacthole defined through the second insulating layer L2 and the color filterCF.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first and second shielding electrodesSCE1 and SCE2 include a transparent conductive material, such as indiumtin oxide, and are disposed to be spaced apart from the first and secondsub-pixel electrodes PE17 and PE27. In the illustrated exemplaryembodiment, each of the first and second shielding electrodes SCE1 andSCE2 extends in a second direction D2, the first and second shieldingelectrodes SCE1 and SCE2 are overlapped with the first and second datalines DL1 and DL2 in a one-to-one correspondence, and the pixelelectrode PE-4 is disposed between the first and second shieldingelectrodes SCE1 and SCE2. The first and second shielding electrodes SCE1and SCE2 will be described in detail later.

An opposite substrate 300-1 of the LCD 515 includes a light blockinglayer BM, and the light blocking layer BM is disposed in the non-displayarea N-PA between the first sub-pixel area PA1 and the second sub-pixelarea PA2.

The LCD 515 includes a plurality of spacers disposed between the displaysubstrate 100-1 and the opposite substrate 300-1. In the illustratedexemplary embodiment, the spacers include a first main spacer MS1, asecond main spacer MS2, a first auxiliary spacer SS1, and a secondauxiliary spacer SS2. The first and second main spacers MS1 and MS2 andthe first and second auxiliary spacers SS1 and SS2 are disposed in thenon-pixel area N-PA to overlap with the light blocking layer BM.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the first main spacer MS1 isdisposed between the display substrate 100-1 and the opposite substrate300-1 to overlap with the first TFT TR1, and the second main spacer MS2is disposed between the display substrate 100-1 and the oppositesubstrate 300-1 to overlap with the second TFT TR2. In an exemplaryembodiment, the first auxiliary spacer SS1 is disposed between thedisplay substrate 100-1 and the opposite substrate 300-1 to overlap withthe first data line DL1, and the second auxiliary spacer SS2 is disposedbetween the display substrate 100-1 and the opposite substrate 300-1 tooverlap with the second data line DL2.

Each of the first and second main spacers MS1 and MS2 makes contact withthe display substrate 100-1 and the opposite substrate 300-1, but eachof the first and second auxiliary spacers SS1 and SS2 makes contact withone of the display substrate 100-1 and the opposite substrate 300-1 andis spaced apart from the other one of the display substrate 100-1 andthe opposite substrate 300-1. As the first auxiliary spacer SS1 shown inFIG. 27C, each of the first and second auxiliary spacers SS1 and SS2makes contact with the display substrate 100-1 and is spaced apart fromthe opposite substrate 300-1. In an exemplary embodiment, a distance LDbetween the opposite substrate 300-1 and each of the first and secondauxiliary spacers SS1 and SS2 is in a range from about 0.4 μm to about0.6 μm, for example.

Accordingly, external impacts applied to the LCD 515 are absorbed by thefirst and second main spacers MS1 and MS2, and then further absorbed bythe first and second auxiliary spacers SS1 and SS2. That is, since theexternal impacts are absorbed by the spacers twice according to thestructures of the spacers, the external impacts may be effectivelyabsorbed.

As described above, the spacers are disposed in the non-display areaN-PA to overlap with the light blocking layer BM, and thus a thicknessof each of the spacers may be reduced by a first thickness T1 of thelight blocking layer BM. In more detail, a second thickness T2 of eachof the first and second main spacers MS1 and MS2 is reduced by the firstthickness T1, and a third thickness T3 of each of the first and secondauxiliary spacers SS1 and SS2 is reduced by the first thickness T1. Whenthe thickness of each of the spacers is reduced by the thickness of thelight blocking layer BM, the following effects are obtained.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, each of the spacers has a tapershape, for example. In this case, a size of bottom surface of eachspacer is reduced in accordance with the reduction of the thickness ofeach spacer, and thus the size of each spacer may be reduced when viewedin a plan view. Therefore, the spacers may be easily disposed in thenon-display area N-PA. As a result, an aperture ratio of the first andsecond sub-pixel areas PA1 and PA2 may be prevented from being decreaseddue to the spacers that infiltrate the first and second sub-pixel areasPA1 and PA2.

As described above, the light passing through the non-display area N-PAis blocked by the light blocking layer BM disposed in the non-pixel areaN-PA, but the light passing through the other non-display area N-PA isrequired to be blocked except for the non-display area N-PA. In moredetail, when the non-display area extending in the second direction D2and being overlapped with the first and second data lines DL1 and DL2 isreferred to as a sub-non pixel area N-PA1, a member or structure isrequired to block the light passing through the sub-non pixel area N-PAL

To this end, the first and second shielding electrodes SCE1 and SCE2 aredisposed in the sub-non pixel area N-PAL The first shielding electrodeSCE1 has a width greater than that of the first data line DL1 and isoverlapped with the first data line DL1 when viewed in a plan view, andthe second shielding electrode SCE2 has a width greater than that of thesecond data line DL2 and is overlapped with the second data lines DL2when viewed in a plan view.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, an electric potential generatedby the first shielding electrode SCE1 and the common electrode CE isequal to an electric potential generated by the second shieldingelectrode SCE2 and the common electrode CE. Accordingly, the electricfield is not generated between the first shielding electrode SCE1 andthe common electrode CE as shown in FIG. 27C, and therefore, thedirection in which the liquid crystal molecules RM pre-tilted by thefirst and second alignment layers 110 and 310 are aligned may besubstantially vertical to the display substrate 100-1 and the oppositesubstrate 300-1.

As described above, when the liquid crystal molecules RM are verticallyaligned to the display substrate 100-1 and the opposite substrate 300-1,the light passing through the sub-non pixel area N-PA1 may be blocked.Thus, similar to the non-pixel area N-PA defined by the light blockinglayer BM, the areas in which the first and second shielding electrodesSCE1 and SCE2 are disposed may serve as areas to block the light. As aresult, the light blocking layer BM does not need to be disposed in thesub-non pixel area N-PAL

Accordingly, as described with reference to FIGS. 1A to 1C, although atleast one of the first and second shielding electrodes SCE1 and SCE2enter the first and second sub-pixel areas PA1 and PA2 due to themisalignment generated when the display substrate 100-1 and the oppositesubstrate 300-1 are curved, the aperture ratio of the first and secondsub-pixel areas PA1 and PA2 may be prevented from being lowered sincethe first and second shielding electrodes SCE1 and SCE2 have the lighttransmittance.

FIG. 28 is a plan view showing a position relation between a TFT, acolor pixel, and a spacer in an LCD according to another exemplaryembodiment of the invention and FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view takenalong line VII-VII′ of FIG. 28.

FIG. 28 shows nine pixels arranged in three rows by three columns of theLCD 516, and only transistor areas TA11, TA12, TA13, TA21, TA22, TA23,TA31, TA32, and TA33 each including first and second TFTs TR1 and TR2are disposed are shown in each pixel, for example. Therefore, ninetransistor areas TA11, TA12, TA13, TA21, TA22, TA23, TA31, TA32, andTA33 arranged in three rows by three columns have been shown in FIG. 28.

Referring to FIG. 28, blue, green, and red color pixels B, G, and R aresequentially arranged in the same row and color pixels having the samecolor are arranged in the same column That is, the blue color pixel B isdisposed in the transistor areas TA11, TA12, and TA13, the green colorpixel G is disposed in the transistor areas TA21, TA22, and TA23, andthe red color pixel R is disposed in the transistor areas TA31, TA32,and TA33.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first and second TFTs TR1 and TR2 aredisposed in each of the transistor areas TA11 to TA33. According toanother exemplary embodiment, one or three or more TFTs may be disposedin each of the transistor areas TA11 to TA33.

As shown in FIG. 29, the LCD 516 includes a column spacer CS disposed onthe display substrate 100. In an exemplary embodiment, the column spacerCS includes a main spacer MS and a sub-spacer SS. The main spacer MS isdisposed in the transistor area TA11 in which the blue color pixel B isdisposed, and the sub-spacer SS is disposed in the transistor areasTA21, TA22, TA23, TA31, TA32, and TA33 each in which the green or redcolor pixel G or R is disposed.

The main spacer MS has a first height h1 and a first width w1′ and thesub-spacer SS has a second height h2 smaller than the first height h1.Accordingly, an upper surface of the main spacer MS makes contact withthe opposite substrate 300, but an upper surface of the sub-spacer SS isspaced apart from the opposite substrate 300 by a predetermineddistance.

In an exemplary embodiment, a difference in height between the mainspacer MS and the sub-spacer SS is about 0.2 μm, for example. In anexemplary embodiment, the sub-spacer SS has a second width w2′ equal toor smaller than the first width w1′.

In an exemplary embodiment, the blue color pixel B has a first thicknesst1′, but the green and red color pixels G and R have a second thicknesst2′ smaller than the first thickness t1. In an exemplary embodiment, adifference in thickness between the blue color pixel B and each of thegreen and red color pixels G and R is about 0.2 μm, for example.

When a desired step difference between the upper surface of the mainspacer MS and the upper surface of the sub-spacer SS is about 0.4 μm,for example, the desired step difference between the upper surface ofthe main spacer MS and the upper surface of the sub-spacer SS may besecured by adjusting the height difference between the main spacer MSand the sub-spacer SS and the thickness difference between the bluecolor pixel B and each of the green and red color pixels G and R. Asdescribed above, when the blue color pixel B is disposed on the mainspacer MS, a process time required to provide the column spacer CS onthe display substrate 100 may be shortened and a process required toprovide the column spacer CS on the display substrate 100 may besimplified.

In an another exemplary embodiment, when the thickness of the blue colorpixel B is equal to the thickness of each of the green and red colorpixels G and R, the position of the main spacer MS may be disposed inthe areas of the green and red color pixels G and R without beinglimited to the area of the blue color pixel B.

For the convenience of explanation, the layers between the first basesubstrate S1 and the color filter CF and the layers disposed on thesecond base substrate S2 of the opposite substrate 300 are omitted fromFIG. 29.

As shown in FIG. 29, the areas in which the first and second TFTs TR1and TR2 are disposed are relatively higher than the areas in which thefirst and second TFTs TR1 and TR2 are not disposed in each of thetransistor areas TA11 to TA33. The main and sub spacers MS and SS aredisposed in areas corresponding to the areas in which the first andsecond TFTs TR1 and TR2 are disposed, i.e., an area in which first orsecond gate electrode GE1 or GE2 is disposed, in each of the transistorareas TA11 to TA33 to face the first or second gate electrode GE1 orGE2.

In an exemplary embodiment, the main spacer MS is disposed on the firstTFT TR1 of one transistor area TA11, in which the blue color pixel B isdisposed, among three successive transistor areas TA11, TA12, and TA13in the column direction. That is, the number of the main spacers MSdisposed in the pixels arranged in three rows by three columns is one.

In an exemplary embodiment, the sub-spacer SS is disposed on the firstand second TFTs TR1 and TR2 of each of six transistor areas TA21, TA22,TA23, TA31, TA32, and TA33 each in which the green and red color pixelsG and R are disposed. That is, the number of the sub-spacers SS disposedin the pixels arranged in three rows by three columns is twelve.

In an exemplary embodiment, the sub-spacers SS have the same height inFIG. 29, but the height difference may exist between the sub-spacers SS.

FIG. 30 is a graph showing a relation between a smear and an area ratioof a column spacer. In FIG. 30, an x-axis represents an area ratio interms of percentage (%) of the column spacer CS and a y-axis representsa size of smear in terms of kilogram-force (kgf). Here, the area ratio(%) of the column spacer CS indicates a ratio of a contact area betweenthe column spacer CS and the display substrate 100 to the display areaof the LCD 516 shown in FIG. 28.

Referring to FIG. 30, as the area ratio (%) of the column spacer CSincreases, the size of the smear (kgf) applied to the LCD 516 increases.To secure a smear margin of about 6 kgf or more, the LCD has the arearatio of the column spacer CS of about 0.914% or more. In this case, avariation in cell gap, i.e., reduction of the cell gap, does not occuruntil the size of smear reaches about 6 kgf, and thus the LCD isnormally operated.

Therefore, the column spacer CS may be provided to have the area ratioof about 0.914% in the illustrated exemplary embodiment.

In another exemplary embodiment, to secure the smear margin of about 7kgf, the LCD has the area ratio of the column spacer CS in a range from1% to 1.2%.

FIG. 31 is a plan view showing a position relation between a TFT, acolor pixel, and a spacer in an LCD according to another exemplaryembodiment of the invention and FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view takenalong line VIII-VIII′ of FIG. 31.

Referring to FIGS. 31 and 32, the blue color pixel B is disposed in thetransistor areas TA11, TA12, and TA13, the green color pixel G isdisposed in the transistor areas TA21, TA22, and TA32, and the red colorpixel R is disposed in the transistor areas TA31, TA32, and TA33. Thefirst and second TFTs TR1 and TR2 are disposed in each of the transistorareas TA11 to TA33.

Referring to FIG. 32, the LCD 517 includes a column spacer disposed onthe display substrate 100. In an exemplary embodiment, the column spacerincludes first, second, and third main spacers MS1, MS2, and MS3 and aplurality of sub-spacers SS. The first to third main spacers MS1 to MS3are disposed in the transistor areas TA11, TA12, and TA13 in which theblue color pixel B is disposed, and the sub-spacers SS are disposed inthe transistor areas TA21, TA22, TA23, TA31, TA32, and TA33 in which thegreen and red color pixels G and R are disposed.

The first to third main spacers MS1 to MS3 have a first height h1 and afirst width w1′ and each of the sub-spacers SS has a second height h2smaller than the first height h1. The sub-spacers SS have a second widthw2′ equal to or smaller than the first width w1′.

As shown in FIG. 32, the areas in which the first and second TFTs TR1and TR2 are disposed are relatively higher than the areas in which thefirst and second TFTs TR1 and TR2 are not disposed in each of thetransistor areas TA11 to TA33.

The first main spacer MS1 is disposed in the area of the transistor areaTA11, in which the first TFT TR1 is disposed, the second main spacer MS2is disposed in the area of the transistor area TA12, in which the secondTFT TR2 is disposed, and the third main spacer MS3 is disposed in thearea of the transistor area TA13, in which the first TFT TR1 isdisposed. That is, the first, second, and third main spacers MS1, MS2,and MS3 are arranged in a zigzag shape when viewed in a plan view. Is anexemplary embodiment, the number of the main spacers disposed in thepixels arranged in three rows by three columns may be three. Asdescribed above, as the number of the main spacers MS1, MS2, and MS3disposed on the LCD 517 increases, a relatively high smear margin may besecured.

The sub-spacers SS are disposed in areas, in which the first and secondTFTs TR1 and TR2 are disposed, among the transistor areas TA21 to TA33.That is, the number of the sub-spacers SS disposed in the pixelsarranged in three rows by three columns may be twelve.

FIG. 33 is a plan view showing a position relation between a TFT, acolor pixel, and a spacer in an LCD according to another exemplaryembodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 33, an LCD 518 includes a column spacer disposed onthe display substrate. In an exemplary embodiment, the column spacerincludes first, second, and third main spacers MS1, MS2, and MS3 and aplurality of sub-spacers SS. The first to third main spacers MS1 to MS3are disposed in the transistor areas TA11, TA12, and TA13 in which theblue color pixel B is disposed, and the sub-spacers SS are disposed inthe transistor area TA21, TA22, TA23, TA31, TA32, and TA33 in which thegreen and red color pixels G and R are disposed.

The first main spacer MS1 is disposed in the area of the transistor areaTA11, in which the first TFT TR1 is disposed, the second main spacer MS2is disposed in the area of the transistor area TA12, in which the secondTFT TR2 is disposed, and the third main spacer MS3 is disposed in thearea of the transistor area TA13, in which the first TFT TR1 isdisposed.

That is, the first, second, and third main spacers MS1, MS2, and MS3 arearranged in a straight line shape when viewed in a plan view. In anexemplary embodiment, the number of the main spacers disposed in thepixels arranged in three rows by three columns may be three.

The sub-spacers SS are disposed in areas, in which the first and secondTFTs TR1 and TR2 are disposed, among the transistor areas TA21 to TA33.That is, the number of the sub-spacers SS disposed in the pixelsarranged in three rows by three columns may be twelve.

Although the illustrated exemplary embodiments of the invention havebeen described, it is understood that the invention should not belimited to these exemplary embodiments but various changes andmodifications can be made by one ordinary skilled in the art within thespirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A liquid crystal display comprising: a displaysubstrate which comprises a plurality of pixel areas and is curved in afirst direction; an opposite substrate which faces the displaysubstrate, is coupled to the display substrate, and is curved along thedisplay substrate; and a liquid crystal layer disposed between thedisplay substrate and the opposite substrate, wherein a plurality ofdomains are defined in each of the plurality of pixel areas, directionsin which liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer arealigned are different from each other in at least two domains among theplurality of domains, and the plurality of domains is arranged in asecond direction crossing the first direction.
 2. The liquid crystaldisplay of claim 1, wherein the display substrate further comprises adisplay area in which an image is displayed, and the display area iscurved in the first direction.
 3. The liquid crystal display of claim 2,wherein the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the seconddirection.
 4. The liquid crystal display of claim 2, wherein the displaysubstrate further comprises a pixel electrode disposed in each of theplurality of pixel areas, the opposite substrate comprises a commonelectrode that generates an electric field in cooperation with the pixelelectrode, and a portion of the pixel electrode extends in a directioninclined with respect to the first and second directions in a plan viewto define the plurality of domains.
 5. The liquid crystal display ofclaim 4, wherein liquid crystal alignment directions, in which theliquid crystal molecules are aligned in the plurality of domains inresponse to the electric field, are different from each other in theplan view.
 6. The liquid crystal display of claim 4, wherein the pixelelectrode comprises: a first sub-pixel electrode disposed in a firstsub-pixel area of each of the plurality of pixel areas; and a secondsub-pixel electrode disposed in a second sub-pixel area of each of theplurality of pixel areas.
 7. The liquid crystal display of claim 6,wherein the display substrate further comprises: a first data lineelectrically connected to the first sub-pixel electrode and configuredto apply a first data signal to the first sub-pixel electrode; and asecond data line electrically connected to the second sub-pixelelectrode and configured to apply a second data signal different fromthe first data signal to the second sub-pixel electrode.
 8. The liquidcrystal display of claim 6, wherein first, second, third, and fourthdomains sequentially arranged in the second direction are defined ineach of the first and second sub-pixel areas, and each of the first andsecond sub-pixel electrodes comprises: first branch portions disposed inthe first domain and extending in a direction inclined with respect tothe first and second directions in the plan view; second branch portionsdisposed in the second domain and extending in a direction inclined withrespect to the first and second directions in the plan view; thirdbranch portions disposed in the third domain and extending in adirection inclined with respect to the first and second directions inthe plan view; and fourth branch portions disposed in the fourth domainand extending in a direction inclined with respect to the first andsecond directions in the plan view.
 9. The liquid crystal display ofclaim 8, wherein at least one first branch portion among the firstbranch portions has a width greater than a width of remaining firstbranch portions among the first branch portions, at least one secondbranch portion among the second branch portions has a width greater thana width of remaining second branch portions among the second branchportions, at least one third branch portion among the third branchportions has a width greater than a width of remaining third branchportions among the third branch portions, and at least one fourth branchportion among the fourth branch portions has a width greater than awidth of remaining fourth branch portions among the fourth branchportions.
 10. The liquid crystal display of claim 8, wherein each of thefirst and second sub-pixel electrodes further comprises: a firsthorizontal stem portion which extends in the first direction, isconnected to the first and second branch portions, and is disposedbetween the first domain and the second domain; and a second horizontalstem portion which extends in the first direction, is connected to thethird and fourth branch portions, and is disposed between the thirddomain and the fourth domain.
 11. The liquid crystal display of claim10, wherein the first branch portions are symmetrical with the secondbranch portions with respect to the first horizontal stem portion in theplan view, and the third branch portions are symmetrical with the fourthbranch portions with respect to the second horizontal stem portion inthe plan view.
 12. The liquid crystal display of claim 10, wherein thefirst and second branch portions have widths, respectively, that becomesmaller as the first and second branch portions are farther away fromthe first horizontal stem portion, and the third and fourth branchportions have widths, respectively, that become smaller as the third andfourth branch portions are farther away from the second horizontal stemportion.
 13. The liquid crystal display of claim 8, wherein each of thefirst and second sub-pixel electrodes further comprises a domainconnection portion disposed between the second domain and the thirddomain to connect the second branch portions and the third branchportions.
 14. The liquid crystal display of claim 13, wherein the domainconnection portion is disposed at a center portion of a boundary areabetween the second domain and the third domain.
 15. The liquid crystaldisplay of claim 13, wherein the domain connection portion is disposedat each of edges of a boundary area between the second domain and thethird domain.
 16. The liquid crystal display of claim 13, wherein thesecond branch portions, the domain connection portion, and the thirdbranch portions are connected to each other in a zigzag shape in theplan view.
 17. The liquid crystal display of claim 16, wherein aconnection angle between the domain connection portion and the secondbranch portions is in a range from about 60 degrees to about 120 degreesin the plan view, and a connection angle between the domain connectionportion and the third branch portions is in a range from about 60degrees to about 120 degrees in the plan view.
 18. The liquid crystaldisplay of claim 17, wherein the second branch portions, and thirdbranch portions connected to the second branch portions by the domainconnection portion, extend in a same direction.
 19. The liquid crystaldisplay of claim 10, wherein each of the first and second sub-pixelelectrodes further comprises: a first vertical stem portion whichextends in the second direction and is connected to the first branchportions, the second branch portions, and the first horizontal stemportion; and a second vertical stem portion which extends in the seconddirection and is connected to the third branch portions, the fourthbranch portions, and the second horizontal stem portion.
 20. The liquidcrystal display of claim 19, wherein the first vertical stem portion isconnected to edges of the first branch portions and edges of the secondbranch portions, and the second vertical stem portion is connected toedges of the third branch portions and edges of the fourth branchportions.
 21. The liquid crystal display of claim 19, wherein the firstvertical stem portion is spaced apart from edges of the first branchportions and edges of the second branch portions and connected to thefirst and second branch portions, and the second vertical stem portionis spaced apart from edges of the third branch portions and edges of thefourth branch portions and connected to the third and fourth branchportions.
 22. The liquid crystal display of claim 21, wherein adirection in which the first branch portions disposed at one side of thefirst vertical stem portion extend is different from a direction inwhich the first branch portions disposed at the other side of the firstvertical stem portion extend in the plan view, and a direction in whichthe second branch portions disposed at one side of the first verticalstem portion extend is different from a direction in which the secondbranch portions disposed at the other side of the first vertical stemportion extend in the plan view.
 23. The liquid crystal display of claim22, wherein the display substrate or the opposite substrate furthercomprises a light blocking member to block a light, the light blockingmember is overlapped with a portion of the first branch portions, whichextends in a different direction from remaining first branch portions ofthe first branch portions, the light blocking member is overlapped witha portion of the second branch portions, which extends in a differentdirection from remaining second branch portions of the second branchportions, the light blocking member is overlapped with a portion of thethird branch portions, which extends in a different direction fromremaining third branch portions of the third branch portions, and thelight blocking member is overlapped with a portion of the fourth branchportions, which extends in a different direction from remaining fourthbranch portions of the fourth branch portions.
 24. The liquid crystaldisplay of claim 19, wherein each of the first and second sub-pixelelectrodes further comprises a stem connection portion disposed at atleast one of a position at which the first horizontal stem portioncrosses the first vertical stem portion and a position at which thesecond horizontal stem portion crosses the second vertical stem portion.25. The liquid crystal display of claim 19, wherein at least one of thefirst vertical stem portion and the second vertical stem portion has awidth that becomes smaller in a direction closer to an edge thereof froma center portion thereof.
 26. The liquid crystal display of claim 10,wherein the first horizontal stem portion has a width that becomessmaller as the first horizontal stem portion become farther from thefirst vertical stem portion, and the second horizontal stem portion hasa width that becomes smaller as the second horizontal stem portionbecome farther from the second vertical stem portion.
 27. The liquidcrystal display of claim 8, wherein each of the first and secondsub-pixel electrodes further comprises: a first branch connectionportion extending in the first direction to connect edges of the secondbranch portions; and a second branch connection portion extending in thefirst direction to connect edges of the third branch portions.
 28. Theliquid crystal display of claim 8, wherein a direction in which each ofthe first branch portions extends crosses a direction in which each ofthe second branch portions extends in the plan view, and a direction inwhich each of the third branch portions extends crosses a direction inwhich each of the fourth branch portions extends in the plan view. 29.The liquid crystal display of claim 28, wherein directions, in which thefirst branch portions, the second branch portions, the third branchportions, and the fourth branch portions extend, define an angle ofabout 45 degrees with the first direction and the second direction inthe plan view.
 30. The liquid crystal display of claim 8, wherein adirection in which each of the first branch portions extends crosses adirection in which each of the third branch portions extends in the planview, and a direction in which each of the second branch portionsextends crosses a direction in which each of the fourth branch portionsextends in the plan view.
 31. The liquid crystal display of claim 30,wherein directions, in which the first branch portions, the secondbranch portions, the third branch portions, and the fourth branchportions extend, define an angle of about 45 degrees with the firstdirection and the second direction in the plan view.
 32. The liquidcrystal display of claim 8, wherein each of the first and secondsub-pixel electrodes further comprises: a horizontal stem portionextending in the first direction; a vertical stem portion extending inthe second direction; and sub-branch portions connected to the verticalstem portion, wherein each branch portion among the first to fourthbranch portions has a first width, and wherein each sub-branch portionamong the sub-branch portions has a second width smaller than the firstwidth.
 33. The liquid crystal display of claim 32, wherein each of thefirst and second sub-pixel electrodes further comprises: firstsub-branch portions disposed in the first domain, each first sub-branchportion having the second width and extending in the direction in whichthe first branch portions extend; second sub-branch portions disposed inthe second domain, each second sub-branch portions having the secondwidth and extending in the direction in which the second branch portionsextend; third sub-branch portions disposed in the third domain, eachthird sub-branch portion having the second width and extending in thedirection in which the third branch portions extend; and fourthsub-branch portions disposed in the fourth domain, each fourthsub-branch portion having the second width and extending in thedirection in which the fourth branch portions extend, and each of thefirst branch portions, each of the second branch portions, each of thethird branch portions, and each of the fourth branch portions have thefirst width.
 34. The liquid crystal display of claim 33, wherein thehorizontal stem portion comprises: a first horizontal stem portionconnected to the first and second branch portions and disposed betweenthe first domain and the second domain; and a second horizontal stemportion connected to the third and fourth branch portions and disposedbetween the third domain and the fourth domain, and wherein the verticalstem portion comprises: a first vertical stem portion connected to thefirst and second sub-branch portions; and a second vertical stem portionconnected to the third and fourth sub-branch portions.
 35. The liquidcrystal display of claim 34, wherein the first sub-branch portions aresymmetrical with the second sub-branch portions with respect to thefirst horizontal stem portion in the plan view, and the third sub-branchportions are symmetrical with the fourth sub-branch portions withrespect to the second horizontal stem portion in the plan view.
 36. Theliquid crystal display of claim 32, wherein each of the first and secondsub-pixel electrodes further comprises: first sub-branch portionsdisposed in the first domain and extending in a direction in which thefirst branch portions extend, at least a portion of the first sub-branchportions having the second width; second sub-branch portions disposed inthe second domain and extending in a direction in which the secondbranch portions extend, at least a portion of the second sub-branchportions having the second width; third sub-branch portions disposed inthe third domain and extending in a direction in which the third branchportions extend, at least a portion of the third sub-branch portionshaving the second width; and fourth sub-branch portions disposed in thefourth domain and extending in a direction in which the fourth branchportions extend, at least a portion of the fourth sub-branch portionshaving the second width, and wherein each of the first branch portions,each of the second branch portions, each of the third branch portions,and each of the fourth branch portions have the first width.
 37. Theliquid crystal display of claim 32, wherein each of the first and secondsub-pixel electrodes further comprises: first sub-branch portionsdisposed in the first domain and extending in a direction in which thefirst branch portions extend, each of the first sub-branch portionshaving a width smaller than the first width; second sub-branch portionsdisposed in the second domain and extending in a direction in which thesecond branch portions extend, each of the second sub-branch portionshaving a width smaller than the first width; third sub-branch portionsdisposed in the third domain and extending in a direction in which thethird branch portions extend, each of the third sub-branch portionshaving a width smaller than the first width; and fourth sub-branchportions disposed in the fourth domain and extending in a direction inwhich the fourth branch portions extend, each of the fourth sub-branchportions having a width smaller than the first width, and wherein eachof the first branch portions, each of the second branch portions, eachof the third branch portions, and each of the fourth branch portionshave the first width, and wherein the first sub-branch portions havedifferent widths from each other, the second sub-branch portions havedifferent widths from each other, the third sub-branch portions havedifferent widths from each other, and the fourth sub-branch portionshave different widths from each other.
 38. The liquid crystal display ofclaim 8, wherein a unit domain group configured to include the pluralityof domains is defined in each of the plurality of pixel areas, and theliquid crystal molecules are aligned in different directions in at leasttwo domains among the plurality of domains arranged in the firstdirection in the plurality of pixel areas.
 39. The liquid crystaldisplay of claim 38, wherein the liquid crystal molecules are aligned ina first liquid crystal alignment direction in response to the electricfield in the first domain, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned in asecond liquid crystal alignment direction in response to the electricfield in the second domain, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned ina third liquid crystal alignment direction in response to the electricfield in the third domain, and the liquid crystal molecules are alignedin a fourth liquid crystal alignment direction in response to theelectric field in the fourth domain.
 40. The liquid crystal display ofclaim 39, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth liquid crystalalignment directions are different from each other in the plan view. 41.The liquid crystal display of claim 38, wherein the unit domain group isprovided in a plural number in the plurality of pixel areas, the firstto fourth domains are defined in each of unit domain groups and arrangedin a matrix form, a row direction of the matrix form is substantiallyparallel to the first direction, and a column direction of the matrixform is substantially parallel to the second direction.
 42. The liquidcrystal display of claim 41, wherein the first domains are alternatelyarranged with the third domains in an n-th row (“n” is a natural number)of the matrix form.
 43. The liquid crystal display of claim 42, whereinthe second domains are alternately arranged with the fourth domains inan (n+1)th row of the matrix form.
 44. The liquid crystal display ofclaim 43, wherein the first to fourth domains are arranged in a sameorder in the unit domain groups.
 45. The liquid crystal display of claim43, wherein the first to fourth domains are arranged in differentdirections from each other in at least two unit domain groups among theunit domain groups.
 46. The liquid crystal display of claim 41, whereinm (“m” is a natural equal to or larger than 2) first domainssuccessively arranged are alternately arranged with k (“k” is a naturalnumber equal to or larger than 2) third domains successively arranged inan n-th (“n” is a natural number) row of the matrix form.
 47. The liquidcrystal display of claim 46, wherein m second domains successivelyarranged are alternately arranged with k fourth domains successivelyarranged in an (n+1)th row of the matrix form.
 48. The liquid crystaldisplay of claim 38, wherein the unit domain group is defined in each ofthe first and second sub-pixel areas.
 49. The liquid crystal display ofclaim 6, further comprising: a light blocking layer disposed on thedisplay substrate or the opposite substrate to block a light; and aplurality of spacers disposed between the display substrate and theopposite substrate, wherein the light blocking layer and the pluralityof spacers is disposed in a non-pixel area defined between the firstsub-pixel area and the second sub-pixel area.
 50. The liquid crystaldisplay of claim 49, wherein the plurality of spacers is overlapped withthe light blocking layer in the non-pixel area in the plan view.
 51. Theliquid crystal display of claim 50, wherein the plurality of spacerscomprises: a main spacer which contacts with the display substrate andthe opposite substrate; and a sub-spacer which contacts one of thedisplay substrate and the opposite substrate and is spaced apart fromthe other of the display substrate and the opposite substrate.
 52. Theliquid crystal display of claim 50, wherein the display substratefurther comprises a plurality of shielding electrodes, and each of theplurality of shielding electrodes generates a same electric potentialwith the common electrode and is spaced apart from the pixel electrode.53. The liquid crystal display of claim 52, wherein each of theplurality of shielding electrodes extends in the second direction. 54.The liquid crystal display of claim 8, wherein the display substratefurther comprises: at least one thin film transistor connected to thepixel electrode; and a column spacer including a main spacer and asub-spacer, wherein the main spacer maintains a cell gap between thedisplay substrate and the opposite substrate, and the sub-spacer isspaced apart from the opposite substrate by a predetermined distance.55. The liquid crystal display of claim 54, wherein the main spacer andthe sub-spacer are disposed in areas each in which the at least one thinfilm transistor is disposed in each of the plurality of pixel areas. 56.The liquid crystal display of claim 55, wherein the display substratefurther comprises a red color pixel, a green color pixel, and a bluecolor pixel disposed to correspond to the plurality of pixel areas, andthe blue color pixel has a thickness larger than thicknesses of thegreen color pixel and the red color pixel, respectively.
 57. The liquidcrystal display of claim 56, wherein the main spacer is disposed on theblue color pixel and the sub-spacer is disposed on each of the greencolor pixel and the red color pixel.
 58. The liquid crystal display ofclaim 56, wherein the main spacer has a height higher than a height ofthe sub-spacer.
 59. The liquid crystal display of claim 56, wherein themain spacer has a width greater than a width of the sub-spacer.
 60. Theliquid crystal display of claim 54, wherein the at least one thin filmtransistor comprises: a first thin film transistor connected to thefirst sub-pixel electrode; and a second thin film transistor connectedto the second sub-pixel electrode.
 61. The liquid crystal display ofclaim 60, wherein a number of the main spacers disposed in N pixel areasis smaller than a number of the sub-spacers disposed in the N pixelareas.
 62. The liquid crystal display of claim 54, wherein a ratio of acontact area between the column spacer and the display substrate to thedisplay area is more than about 0.914 percent.
 63. The liquid crystaldisplay of claim 1, wherein the display substrate further comprises afirst alignment layer to align the liquid crystal molecules to beinclined, and the opposite substrate comprises a second alignment layerto align the liquid crystal molecules to be inclined.
 64. The liquidcrystal display of claim 63, wherein a direction in which the liquidcrystal molecules are aligned by the first alignment layer in each ofthe plurality of domains is the same as a direction in which the liquidcrystal molecules are aligned by the second alignment layer in each ofthe plurality of domains.
 65. The liquid crystal display of claim 63,wherein the liquid crystal molecules are configured to operate in asuper vertical alignment mode.